2002 News Archive

Index

Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey Receives Funding

17 December 2002 - The Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey, a BSC citizen science program, has received $9200 from TD Friends of the Environment. This funding will help provide volunteer support, education, and development in the 2003 program. It’s great to welcome TD Friends of the Environment as a Survey partner!

Article on Black Oystercatchers appears in Wilson Bulletin

December 2002 - Former BC Coastal Waterbird Survey Coordinator, Stephanie Hazlitt has published a paper on the relationship between territory quality and reproductive success in BC’s Black Oystercatchers in the December 2001 issue of the Wilson Bulletin (Vol. 113, pp 404-409). Stephanie found that oystercatchers hatched and produced more young on shallow sloping intertidal shorelines than on steep-sloped islets and shorelines. She also found that oystercatchers breeding near Glaucous-winged Gulls had smaller first clutches than pairs free of neighbouring gulls. Since completing this work, Stephanie has moved on from BSC and is conducting her Ph.D. research in Australia on Rock Wallabies (we call them bird wannabes). We wish Stephanie good luck in her studies.

Christmas Birds Observed throughout the U.S. Found to Depend on Canada's Boreal Forest

19 December 2002 – Tennessee Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Cape May Warbler, Nashville Warbler all sound like birds that would live in the U.S. "In fact, over 80% of the global population of these songbirds depends on Canada's Northern Boreal Forest to nest and raise their young each summer," said Marilyn Heiman the Director of the Boreal Songbird Initiative.
   A report released today, Importance of Canada's Boreal Forest to Landbirds by Bird Studies Canada, estimates that as many as 3 - 5 billion landbirds migrate south from their breeding grounds in the Boreal Forest each year. Approximately one billion of those birds winter in the U.S. making it the biggest beneficiary of the birds produced in the Boreal Forest. In parts of the southern U.S., up to 1/3 of the birds present in the winter are Boreal Birds. "These include several species Americans will be looking at in their bird feeders this winter or searching for during the National Audubon Society's Annual Christmas Bird Count," said Bob Perciasepe, Vice President for Policy, National Audubon Society.
   Michael Bradstreet, the CEO and Director of Bird Studies Canada said, "This is the first report ever to assess the importance of this little known Canadian northern forest to U.S. bird populations." For the complete press release, click here. For the report's Executive Summary (250k), click here. The complete report (900k) is available here.

America’s Cup yacht teams support Save the Albatross campaign

19 December 2002 – Representatives of America’s Cup syndicates, Whitbread Round the World Race and Volvo Ocean Race teams pledged their support today for BirdLife International’s Save the Albatross campaign. This is part of BirdLife’s global initiative to save the world’s threatened species of albatross and petrel from the threat of extinction posed by longline fishing. Each year an estimated 300,000 seabirds drown on longlines around the world, of which more than 100,000 are albatrosses. The albatross has long been an important symbol for yachtsmen and mariners and it was fitting that this announcement came from the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand’s press conference during the Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. Read the release here

Maritimes Consultation Meeting Minutes

18 December 2002 – Bird Studies Canada held a Maritimes Consultation at which presentations on BSC's Atlantic Region programs were well-received and productive discussions ensued, primarily concerning ways in which to improve communication amongst bird and nature organizations in the region. To download minutes of the meeting click here (English) or ici (Francais).

New Feature added to Updated Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Maps

17 December 2002 – Almost all of the data from year two of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas have been entered in the Atlas database and have been mapped on the Atlas web page . The updated maps also include a new feature: squares in which a species’ range is potentially contracting have been flagged. This allows users to quickly ascertain whether a species’ range is apparently contracting, remaining the same, or expanding, relative to the first Atlas conducted from 1981-1985. Range contractions are, of course, preliminary at this time, as three more years remain on the Atlas project.

Migratory Water Bird Die Offs featured on CBC’s As It Happens

16 December 2002 – Jon McCracken, BSC’s Ontario Program Manager, discussed Type E botulism poisoning of migratory water birds with Mary Lou Finley on the Canadian Broadcast Corporation’s national radio news forum, As It Happens. Media attention to this issue has been high since the dissemination of the BSC media release, Migratory water birds predicted to die in unprecedented numbers in 2003. The Canadian Press, The Windsor Star, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, the London Free Press, and CBC French Radio have also picked up the story.

Paper Published Using Data from Long Point Bird Observatory

15 December 2002 – Data from 30 species of birds during spring migration at Long Point Bird Observatory (1960-1996) have recently been used to show that size differences and difference in arrival dates between males and females are consistent with the hypothesis that selection for survival promotes sexual size dimorphism, rather than the opposite, which is the conventional view. The paper, written by K.J. Kissner, P.J. Weatherhead and C.M. Francis was published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology. A full copy of the paper can be obtained by clicking here.

Surveys of Forest Birds Leads to Site Protection

14 December 2002 – 1n 2002, Bird Studies Canada employees surveyed breeding birds in selected forest tracts managed by the Long Point Region Conservation Authority, in Norfolk County, ON. 16 sites were visited at least once and 81 bird species were detected during the surveys, of which 76 were considered at least as possible breeders. These data, among others, were used by the Authority in designating 20% of its forest land as 'no-cut,' which means that the designated tracts will be protected for the biodiversity associated with older growth seral stages. To download a copy of the report, click here.

Species at Risk Act receives Royal Assent

12 December 2002 – The Species at Risk Act (SARA) received Royal Assent today, bringing to a close a nine-year legislative process to protect Canada's species at risk and their critical habitat. The species at risk legislation ensures that species are assessed under a rigorous and independent scientific process that operates at arm's length from the federal government. It also requires the development of recovery action plans for species that are found to be most at risk, and recognizes the essential role of Aboriginal peoples in the conservation of wildlife by requiring the establishment of a National Aboriginal Council on Species at Risk. SARA will come into force by an order in council in 2003. In the period leading up to the order in council, the Government of Canada will develop the regulations required under the Act, including regulations on compensation. For further information please click here.

Latest News on Loggerhead Shrike Releases in Ontario

11 December 2002 – With fewer than 50 pairs of Loggerhead Shrikes remaining in Eastern Canada, the recovery team led by the Canadian Wildlife Service is working towards developing necessary propagation and release "technology". Initiated in 1997-98 when the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Team took 43 nestling shrikes into captive facilities at the Toronto Zoo and McGill University, the primary and most urgent aim was to preserve their genetic material. A secondary goal was to develop a small-scale captive breeding program, in part to provide birds for experimental wild release in Ontario. This year, 21 young shrikes were released into the wild within the species’ historic range in the Smith’s Falls area. More information is available at Loggerhead Shrike Experimental Releases: 2000-03.

BSC receives software grant from Environmental Systems Research Institute

10 December 2002 – Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) has just awarded BSC a substantial grant of software and support to maintain Basic’s GIS implementation, consisting of ArcGIS software and extensions, and Internet Map Server software. This generous donation will allow BSC to continue to engage in leading edge conservation geography projects in support of bird biodiversity in Canada and elsewhere. For more information on ESRI software, click here to visit their web site.

Environmental Fund grant for National Nocturnal Owl Program

10 December 2002 – Mountain Equipment Co-op recently awarded an Environmental Fund grant to Bird Studies Canada for the National Nocturnal Owl Program in the amount of $4730. The money will be used to help support outreach by the national coordinator, print a brochure for the program, and provide field equipment that volunteers may borrow.

Prestige update from SEO/BirdLife

9 December 2002 – The latest numbers of birds recovered affected by the Prestige oil spill from SEO/BirdLife are as follows (as of 8th Dec): 866 recovered oiled and dead, >700 recovered oiled but still alive. Approximately 40-60 oiled live birds and 60-80 dead oiled birds are being recovered per day. The spill is now coming ashore in the south of Galicia - SEO/Birdlife report that the recently created Atlantic Islands National Park has been heavily oiled along the coast. SEO/Birdlife now plan to carry out an analysis of the data and to issue an updated estimate of the total number of birds killed to coincide with 13 December, exactly one month after the Prestige oil spill occurred.

BSC Receives $200,000 Grant for Wetland Restoration

8 December 2002 – Thanks to the John David and Signy Eaton Foundation for its generous support of wetland restoration and maintenance at Long Point. For over 40 years, BSC staff and volunteers have operate Long Point Bird Observatory's Breakwater Field Station on Long Point Company property at Courtright Ridge. BSC is looking forward to working with the Eaton Foundation and Company staff to undertake this wetland restoration work over the next 2 years.

Bird Studies Canada hosts World Wildlife Fund workshop on State of the Birds in Canada

4 December 2002 – Bird Studies Canada hosted a workshop at its headquarters in Port Rowan to assess the current and historical presence, range, and abundance of more than 450 birds known to regularly occur in Canada. In addition to BSC staff, several well-known experts attended the workshop, which spanned a two-day period. The workshop was in support of a ‘Nature Audit’ of Canada’s biodiversity that World Wildlife Fund Canada is conducting and which will appear in Maclean’s magazine in the spring. While WWF-Canada’s Nature Audit encompasses mammals, insects, amphibians, and other wildlife, BSC was approached to provide expertise on Canada’s birds because of its growing reputation for excellence in this area.

Important Bird Areas in the Americas get funding boost

4 December 2002 – Six successful applicants will receive funding for site conservation at key Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the Americas as a result of BirdLife International, who secured financial support for the project from the Dutch government. The recipients are: Otamendi, Argentina; Serra das Lontras, Brazil; Jaragua, Dominican Republic; Dry Forest Region, Ecuador-Peru frontier; Panama Bay, Panama; and San Rafael, Paraguay. Each site is a potential or designated IBA and the funding will allow efforts to be targeted at a range of different activities including public education, ecotourism promotion, IBA delineation, community engagement, strategic planning, and land purchase and management.

Birds of Québec Online Checklist now available

3 December 2002 – A new version of the Electronic EPOQ Bird Checklist is now available on the web site Birds of Québec . This checklist is based on the latest web database technologies and includes many new features. Additional features will be added over the coming months to summarize and display data interactively.

Études des populations d'oiseaux du Québec

3 décembre 2002 – Une nouvelle version électronique du feuillet ÉPOQ est maintenant disponible sur le site Les Oiseaux du Québec. Cette version a été créée avec les plus récentes technologies Internet et inclut plusieurs nouvelles options. De nouvelles options seront ajoutées au cours des prochains mois afin de résumer et présenter les données de façon interactive.

Cruz to update bird banding software

3 December 2002 – BSC is pleased to welcome Fernando Cruz to the team. His expertise will be put to good use working with the Band Manager Program. Band Manager is software used by bird banding stations across North America to manage information about banding and recaptures. Fernando is currently working on upgrading the software to a new version. Fernando has been a Computer Programmer and Database Administrator for more than 10 years and brings not only his experience but his enthusiasm to BSC.

Club des ornithologues de Québec

10 December 2002 - Project NestWatch coordinator, Catherine Poussart, will be the speaker of the next conference organized by the Club des ornithologues de Québec. Catherine will be presenting some of BSC's programs, including the Christmas Bird Count. The event will be held on 13 December at the Domaine Maizeret, in Québec City, at 19:30. The public is invited to attend; a small fee is required.

10 décembre 2002 - Catherine Poussart, coordonnatrice du Programme de suivi des oiseaux nicheurs, est l'invitée spéciale de la conférence du Club des ornithologues de Québec. Catherine présentera divers programmes d'Études d'Oiseaux Canada, dont le Recensement des oiseaux de Noël. L'activité se déroule le 13 décembre au Domaine Maizeret, à Québec, et débute à 19h30. Le public est invité à y assiter; une petite contribution financière est exigée.

Migratory water birds predicted to die in unprecedented numbers in 2003

10 December 2002 – Scientists at Bird Studies Canada (BSC) are predicting that thousands of migratory water birds will perish on Lake Erie in 2003, poisoned by Type E botulism. "2002 is the fourth consecutive year in which we've seen dramatic increases in the numbers of deaths," said Jon McCracken, BSC's Ontario Program Manager. "If conditions don't change there is every reason to believe that even more birds will die of botulism." Studies are badly needed to assess the role that changes in climate, water temperature, lake water levels, and invasive species are playing in the development of massive outbreaks of Type E botulism. For the complete media release click here.

Le nombre d’oiseaux aquatiques migrateurs qui mourront des suites du botulisme pourrait atteindre des proportions jamais égalées en 2003

18 décembre 2002 – Les chercheurs d’Études d’Oiseaux Canada (ÉOC) prévoient que des milliers d’oiseaux aquatiques migrateurs qui fréquentent le lac Érié mourront des suites du botulisme de type E en 2003. «En 2002, et pour la quatrième année consécutive, le nombre de mortalités relié au botulisme chez les oiseaux aquatiques s’est accru de façon dramatique», a indiqué M. Jon McCracken, coordonnateur des programmes d’Études d’Oiseaux Canada en Ontario. «Si les conditions demeurent inchangées, il y a de bonnes raisons de croire qu’un nombre encore plus important d’oiseaux mourront des suites de cette maladie l’année prochaine.» Il est essentiel que des études soient entreprises afin de connaître le rôle que jouent les changements climatiques, les changements au niveau de la température de l’eau ainsi que du niveau des lacs et la présence d’espèces invasives dans l’apparition et la propagation du botulisme de type E. Pour le communiqué de presse complet, (cliquez ici).

Christmas gift ideas "for the birds"

9 December 2002 - Instead of a partridge in a pear tree this holiday season, why not aim for a downy woodpecker on bird pudding, or a pine siskin on a niger seed feeder? Christmas isn’t just for people. Participants in Project FeederWatch (PFW), a North-American wide program aimed at monitoring backyard birds through the dreary winter months, provide special treats for the birds over the holidays. Bird Studies Canada promotes and organizes the Canadian event each year. More information is available on PFW by clicking here. The complete media release is available by clicking here.

Club de naturalistes de la Péninsule acadienne

4 December 2002 - BSC Atlantic staff Léa Olsen will be making a presentation to the Club de naturalistes de la Péninsule acadienne. Léa’s presentation will discuss BSC in general, as well as the four Atlantic region programs of BSC.

Latest Ontario Atlas Newsletter online

2 December 2002 - The autumn edition of the Atlas Newsletter is now online. If you’re an atlasser you’ll definitely want to log on. This issue features news on: Atlassing adventures in the remote north; Bluebird, a tool for song identification for atlassers; Early Atlassing Calendar and many more tidbits and updates. The purpose of the Atlas project is to map the distribution and relative abundance breeding bird populations of Ontario. The newsletter is great reading! Check it out by clicking here.

10,000 - 15,000 birds estimated dead in Prestige oil spill; Guillemot may be extirpated in Spain as a result

1 December 2002, Cambridge, England - BirdLife International has announced that it estimates the number of birds killed to date by the Prestige oil spill to be 10,000 to 15,000, and warned that the indications are that the second wave of oil now being washed ashore will be worse than the first. The overall estimate of birds killed is based on extrapolation of the latest data available which show the number of oiled birds recovered alive to be 508 and the number of dead birds examined to be 320."The Spanish population of Guillemot has been hardest hit by the Prestige oil spill ", said Alejandro Sanchez, Director of the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife). "We predict the Guillemot is now very likely to become extinct as a breeding bird in Spain. If this happens the Prestige oil spill will be remembered as a tragedy for Spain's wildlife as well as its people."

Importance of Grassland Birds

1 December 2002 - Bird Studies Canada has received a $15,000 contract from the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation to provide estimates to gauge the importance of the central grasslands of North America for birds. The project will focus on five Bird Conservation Regions that comprise the central short-grass / mixed-grass prairie ecosystem ranging from Canada to Mexico.

Winter Birding Identification Course

28 November 2002 - Lisa Priestley (Prairie Program Manager) will be teaching a bird identification course as part of the Edmonton Natural History Club's programs for winter birding in the Edmonton region and Christmas Bird Count. A field trip will be run on 30 November.

Isabel Grace McLaughlin

26 November 2002 - It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Isabel Grace McLaughlin, longtime supporter and Patron of Bird Studies Canada, at her home in Toronto, ON on 26 November 2002. Miss McLaughlin’s father, the late Colonel R. Samuel McLaughlin was deeply involved in waterfowl conservation at Long Point and was a member of the Long Point Company for more than 60 years. Miss McLaughlin’s love of the natural world is strongly reflected in her paintings which can be seen in The National Gallery, The Art Gallery of Ontario and of course The Robert McLaughlin Gallery in her hometown of Oshawa, Ontario.

Developing the Marsh Monitoring Program in Alberta

26 November 2002 - BSC's Prairie Program Manager participated in the 6th annual Alberta Amphibians and Reptile meeting in Red Deer, Alberta. Lisa Priestley outlined BSC's fit with programs that are in place, and some of the results from the Marsh Monitoring Program pilot work that was conducted in Alberta in the spring of 2002.

N.S. Court Gives Record Fine for Oil

25 November 2002 - CBC news reports that a shipping company has been fined $125,000 for dumping about 92 litres of oil off the coast of Nova Scotia last March. $50,000 of this record fine will be going to the Environmental Damages Fund.

Catalysts for Conservation

23 November 2002 – International Migratory Bird Day’s 2003 theme explores how birds have been the inspiration for some of the most significant conservation action in the Americas. IMBD 2003 materials can be ordered at www.birdday.org or by calling 1-866-334-3330. For general information email IMBD@fws.gov.

Shell Environmental Fund latest supporter of Nocturnal Owl Monitoring

21 November 2002 - Lisa Priestley, BSC’s Prairie Program Manager, has announced that the Nocturnal Owl Monitoring Program welcomed it’s newest supporter, the Shell Environmental Fund this month. The Fund’s contribution of $5000 is a terrific signal of support for this important program.

Extra – Volunteers mobilized to Spanish Coastline

24 November 2002 – SEO/BirdLife have been mobilizing volunteers to help with surveys of the coastline. 340 birds have now been taken to rescue centres. On 23 November more than 100 volunteers helped with the surveys but SEO/BirdLife thinks that at least 150 are needed on a daily basis to adequately cover the coastline affected by the oil spill. SEO/BirdLife is looking for more volunteers to help with the surveys and clean up. SEO/BirdLife is also looking for funds to help with this work - online. Donations can be made by clicking here, as well as at the BirdLife International website.

Prestige Oil Spill – Keep up to date through Birdlife International

November 2002 –One of seven Important Bird Areas (IBAs) on the Spanish Galician coast is now covered with oil and three more coastal IBAs face a similar fate as oil continues to be washed ashore. The latest data from 21 November showed that 260 oiled birds have been collected and sent for cleaning so far. Twenty-nine more have been found dead. This is in addition to the 250 birds of 18 species recorded oiled on the coast by SEO/BirdLife volunteers earlier this week. Visit BirdLife International’s website for current information.

Making Christmas Count for the Birds!

19 November 2002 – This year over 55,000 volunteers from every Canadian province and territory, all 50 states, parts of Central and South America, Bermuda, the West Indies, and Pacific Islands will take part in the 103^rd annual Christmas Bird Count. Two years ago, Bird Studies Canada became the Canadian partner in this huge project. Last year, about 52 million individual birds were counted - a record high of 1,936 individual counts was completed, over 300 of them in Canada. Each individual count group completes a census of the birds found during one 24-hour period between 14 December and 5 January in a designated circle 24 kilometres in diameter – about 458 square kilometers. Click here to read the full release.

Camisea Project threatens pristine tropical rain forests in Peru

20 November 2002 – An international energy consortia began work earlier this year on a $1.6 billion (U.S.) project in the southeastern part of Peru’s Amazon basin. Washington Post staff writer James V. Grimaldi has written a feature length story outlining the project backer’s quest for financial support from U.S. development banks. Among the many interesting facts in the story, it states that an independent review commissioned by project developers have noted numerous problems, including fuel spills, unauthorized pipeline route diversions and destructive erosion and landslides. This month, Peru’s energy ministry fined the pipeline consortium $1 million for clearing too much land, including parts of a protected nature preserve, and building unauthorized access roads. The companies have appealed. Read the text at www.washingtonpost.com

Canadian Species At Risk Act revived in the Senate

20 November 2002 - The Species at Risk Act (SARA), which died on the order paper when Parliament began a new session last month, has now been referred directly back to the Senate. An amendment by the Canadian Alliance party to return all bills to their previous point in the legislative process, except SARA and legislation to update the criminal code with respect to animal cruelty, was defeated on October 7th. SARA, now with a new bill number C-1, will soon be considered by a Senate Committee.

Colombia has designated its first IBA

19 November 2002 – The Ecoparque Los Besotes was designated as the first Important Bird Area in Colombia during a ceremony in Valledupar (north of the country in Cesar Department) on 8 November. There are more than 150 species of birds in the area with outstanding examples such as a wild population of Andean Condors (there are only about 50 left in the country), Blue-billed Curassow, Military Macaw, and the White-lored Warbler – all threatened in the country. Check out www.humboldt.org.co for more information.

Focus On: Atlantic Region Programs

16 November 2002 - Bird Studies Canada held a Maritimes Consultation at which presentations on BSC's Atlantic Region programs were well-received and productive discussions ensued, primarily concerning ways in which to improve communication amongst bird and nature organizations in the region. Approximately 60 people from across the region, with a common interest in bird research and conservation, attended the event that was held in Sackville, NB.

BSC presents at federal workshop

21 November 2002 - BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Manager, Becky Whittam, will be speaking on "Avian interactions with wind turbine structures" at the federal Environmental Assessment Practitioners Workshop in Gatineau, QC, on Thursday 21 November.

Innovative way to fund a Christmas Bird Count!

19 November 2002 - BSC is pleased to report that the Fredericton, NB Christmas Bird Count will be submitting their data to BSC and Audubon in 2002, thanks to the hard work of compiler Don Gibson. Don has been raising the money to cover the $5 per participant fee in an innovative way; Don approached a birdseed vendor in Fredericton and asked if they could donate a bag of sunflower seed to be raffled off at each meeting of the Fredericton Nature Club. In turn, Don offered to do an in-store talk on winter bird feeding, which was eagerly accepted. So far, revenues from the raffles have exceeded expectations and about 40 people attended Don’s talk on a snowy November night.

Focus On: Citizen Scientists

20 November 2002 - Jeanne Roy, BC Program Manager, will be presenting a talk at the Seaduck Conservation Meeting, hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Service, 29 November 2002. The talk, 'The Value of Volunteer Censuses', will be presented during the 'Trends in Seaduck Numbers' section of the meeting. Call Jeanne at 604-940-4696 or send her an email at Jeanne.Roy@ec.gc.ca

Audrey Heagy joins the BSC Team

Audrey Hagey has joined BSC as the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network’s Development Coordinator. A life-long naturalist, Audrey first visited Long Point as a young ornithologist. Her bio can be read in the staff section of the People of BSC.

BSC to host American Birding Association Workshop in June 2003

BSC’s Long Point Bird Observatory will play host to a five day American Birding Association workshop in June 2003. "Birding by Ear/Citizen Scientist" is the event’s working title. Jon McCracken and Keith Larson are working on the participant fact sheet and daily schedule of activities. Watch the BSC website for more information in the new year.

Dr. Davison Ankney Honoured

25-26 October 2002 - Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund/Bird Studies Canada hosted a weekend honouring Dave Ankney's substantial contributions to waterfowl biology, wildlife management, and human biology with a retirement party, scientific symposium and banquet. Approximately 100 people attended Friday night's ‘wild game’ BBQ. On Saturday, a series of "commissioned reviews" were presented on topics to which Dave has had significant input over the years, both on the scientific front and in his role as wildlife advocate. Close to 70 people attended Saturdays’ symposium and evening banquet. The papers were bound and are available to anyone who would like a copy - call Kerrie Wilcox at 519-586-3531 or e-mail kwilcox@bsc-eoc.org To view a group photo of the attendees click here.

Alberta Owl Survey Grant

Lisa Takats-Priestley, BSC’s Prairie Program Coordinator, has announced that the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation will be granting $5000 towards the Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey. For more information on BSC’s research, visit the Nocturnal Owl Monitoring Program on the BSC website.

Advance Notice - BSC Prairie Program Meeting

17 December 2002 – The BSC Prairie Program Meeting will be held at the Canadian Wildlife Service Office in Edmonton from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mark your calendars. For more information call Lisa Takats- Priestley at 780-951-8901 or email at Lisa.Priestley@ec.gc.ca

BC-Yukon Nocturnal Owl Survey Newsletter Available Online

October 2002 – Dick Cannings, Survey Coordinator, has released the latest update on the BC-Yukon Nocturnal Survey with its October newsletter. Read about Northern Saw-Whet Owl migration discovered at Rocky Point, three-year trends in owl populations, news and notes and more. To access the newsletter visit click here.

8 November 2002 – Darwin’s finches – made famous by Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution – are facing a new and for some species, potentially major threat from parasitic fly larvae which feed on nesting birds in the islands of the Galapagos archipelago, Ecuador. The release, distributed by Birdlife International, has received great attention in the United Kingdom. The release and photographs are available at the BirdLife International website

November 2002 – BSC is pleased to announce that it has received a $5000 grant from the Canadian Wildlife Service- Latin American Program (CWS-LAP) in support of its on-site training program of 3 Jamaican field biologists (plus a Mexican and a Venezuelan) at Long Point Bird Observatory for a month this fall. The CWS-LAP program has been a strong supporter of BSC’s Latin American Training Program for about 15 years. The training program is a collaborative project of BirdLife International partners in Canada (Bird Studies Canada and the Canadian Nature Federation), the Canadian Wildlife Service, and BirdLife International partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.

14-15 November 2002 – Bird Studies Canada is sponsoring the 27^th conference of the "Association des Biologists du Québec" in Rimouski, Québec. Three hundred fifty biologists from across the province are expected to attend. Conference details can be found at: www.abq.qc.ca/congres2002.htm

11 November 2002 – "Martha – A Tribute to the Last Passenger Pigeon" is back. Jon McCracken, BSC’s Program Manager, will be presenting his popular multi-media talk on the history of the Passenger Pigeon’s untimely demise and its relevance to current conservation-thinking at the Hamilton Field Naturalists’ Club meeting on the evening of 11 November in Burlington, Ontario. For meeting details, contact Glenda Slessor at curry.slessor@sympatico.ca

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9 November 2002 – 2002-2003 Project FeederWatch season begins! FeederWatchers filling out paper data booklets with last names A-Z, or anyone entering their data online, can begin counting this weekend. Happy counting!

7 November 2002 – BSC Staff to participate in National Seabird Working Group meeting. Becky Whittam, BSC's Atlantic Canada program manager, will be participating in a National Seabird Working Group meeting by conference call. The meeting will deal primarily with issues related to seabird bycatch in Canada.

4 November 2002 – Updated breeding evidence and summary statistics maps for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas are available by clicking here . The maps represent both last year’s data and data submitted from this breeding season as of 1 November.

3 November 2002 - George Clulow, of BSC's National Council, was a featured presenter at the Canada Taiwan Bird Fair held at the Vancouver Public Library, 3 November. His presentation focussed on BSC's national and regional programs, with some emphasis on BC birds. The event was organized by Simon Liao, President of the Wild Bird Federation of Taiwan. In addition the Fair presented an exhibition of award-winning sculptures in paper-relief, together with photographs of wild birds in Taiwan. For more information visit Canada Taiwan Bird Fair.

2- 10 November 2002 – Jon McCracken, BSC’s Program Manager, is attending an international workshop on bird population monitoring, conservation and educational programs at Pico Bonito National Park, Honduras from 2-10 November. The workshop is hosted by the U.S. National Park Service as part of its "Park Flight" program, which is a collaborative project of the U.S. Federal Government (through Partners in Flight), Mexico, and Central American countries, and supported in part by a generous grant from American Airlines. Over 35 biologists from across the U.S., Mexico and Central America, and representing a broad array of government and non-government organizations, are taking part. Jon will be presenting talks on BSC’s partnership experiences in developing volunteer-based, monitoring programs in Canada, the Latin American Training Program, the development of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network.

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2 November 2002 – BSC’s prairie program coordinator led a trip jointly with the Edmonton Natural History Club and Beaverhill Bird Observatory in search of late fall migrating and overwintering raptors. The trip was a good one as the rough-legged hawks, gyrfalcon, and eagles showed up in the last two weeks.

1 November 2002 – The IBA site summaries are now available on the web in French (as well as in English) for all sites in the province of Québec and New Brunswick. To access the IBA site directory, go to www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/IBAsites.html

1 Novembre 2002 – Les résumés des sites ZICO dans les provinces du Québec et du Nouveau-Brunswick sont maintenant tous disponibles en français (de même qu’en anglais) sur le site Internet des ZICO. Pour accéder au site Internet des ZICO, cliquez sur www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/sitesZICO.html

1 November 2002 – The latest population trends calculated from data collected at member stations of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) have just been posted on the Internet. You can view the trends and the graphs of annual population indices at www.bsc-eoc.org/national/migmain.jsp

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1 November 2002 – BSC staff member Jon McCracken helped organize a Carolinian Canada ceremony, sponsored by BSC and other groups, marking the ecological significance of a Norfolk County, Ontario forest tract known as the Big Creek - South Walsingham Sand Ridges ANSI. BSC was represented at the event by staff members Steve Wilcox and Andrew Couturier. BSC has played a major scientific role at the South Walsingham site in the past, mainly through the study and monitoring of the forest’s bird life, and more recently through the development of a management strategy for the forest. This strategy document is available for downloading from BSC’s website at www.bsc-eoc.org/swalsreport.html

Click here for more information on Carolinian Canada’s community marking project.

29-30 October – BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Manager Becky Whittam is attending a planning meeting for BCR (Bird Conservation Region) 14, Atlantic Northern Forest, in Charlottetown, PE. The purpose of this meeting is to begin the process of integrated bird conservation in the Atlantic Northern Forest by providing Canadian partners the opportunity to discuss and establish bird and habitat priorities for the Canadian portion of BCR14. This information will then be used to develop bird conservation goals and priorities at a joint Canada/United States BCR14 meeting scheduled for the first week of December, 2002.

29 October 2002 – Birdlife International is warning that continued over-exploitation of Europe’s fragile mountain ecosystems poses a threat to the future of more than half the region’s mountain birds. Birdlife International is promoting better protection of mountains through the establishment of mountain reserves and the promotion of environmentally sustainable development such as eco-agriculture, eco-forestry and eco-tourism with the involvement of local communities. Along with partner organizations in Europe, they have produced a special web presentation for the International Year of the Mountain that can be viewed at http:www.birdlife.net/Europe/mountains/ Read the BBC’s Alex Kirby’s account at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2372815.stm

23 October 2002 – Alex Kirby, BBC News Online environment correspondent, reported that the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says developed countries must start working urgently towards massive cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases. The call was made by RSPB on the opening day of a climate conference in the Indian capital Delhi. The conference brings together countries which have signed the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement on tackling climate change. The RSPB says emissions cuts of 60% must be implemented by the middle of the 21st Century to slow down global warming. Read the article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2349289.stm

23 October 2002 – BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Manager Becky Whittam is attending the annual meeting of the Atlantic Canada Tern Working Group (ACTWoG) in Sackville, NB. The purpose of this meeting is to disseminate information about current tern research and conservation in Atlantic Canada and to discuss techniques and methods for tern conservation and research in this region.

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23 October 2002 – When most people think of West Nile Virus, they think of its effects on people. Despite the publicity surrounding its human impact, the virus is primarily one that affects birds. And just what kind of effect is it having on birds? Researchers at Bird Studies Canada invite bird-feeding enthusiasts to help them find out. To read the latest press release, click here.

17 October 2002 – Bird Studies Canada in conjunction with the Norfolk Field Naturalists, Long Point World Biosphere & the Long Point Region Conservation Authority presented a lecture concerning water-related issues by Dr. David Schindler. Close to 100 people attended the event. Dr. Schindler is an international authority on aquatic ecosystem health, with a special interest in eutrophication, acid range, and climatic change and variability.

21 October 2002 -- Bird Studies Canada's Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP), in partnership with Great lakes United, has received approved funding in the amount of $150,000 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency- Great Lakes National Program Office. These funds will be used to continue critical research work undertaken by the MMP team and to develop marsh birds and amphibians as Great Lakes Ecosystem indicators. For more information about the MMP and its research, click here.

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21 October 2002 – Updated breeding evidence and summary statistics maps for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas are available by clicking here. The maps represent both last year's data and data submitted from this breeding season as of 18 October.

21 October 2002 – Jeanne Roy, BC Program Manager for BSC, will attend a one-day symposium on Pacific Coast Species at Risk. Topics include an update on the Species at Risk Act, the role of public education in species recovery, an overview of funding support for species at risk research, as well as numerous accounts on the status of pacific coast species at risk.

15 October 2002 -- New data has recently been added to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas online database. Atlas data forms that were submitted on scannable forms are currently being processed and will continue to be added to the Internet on a regular basis. To access the online summaries click here.

11 October 2002 – Bratislava, Slovakia: 94% of rare forest bird sites lack protection in the EU accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe, making species such as the globally threatened Imperial Eagle, Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Middle-spotted Woodpecker more vulnerable, participants heard at a Birdlife International seminar in the Slovak city of Bratislava. The EU accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe are: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. For more information, visit www.birdlife.net

October 2002 – The Americas Regional Office of Birdlife International has published its second issue of its e-newsletter, “Birdlife in the Americas.” This issue features news of the last results of the Seabird Program of Birdlife International, a summary of the new observation on the Fuertes’s Parrot in Columbia and the reintroduction of the White-winged Guan in Peru. In addition, you can find a section summary with the updates on the Important Bird Areas Program (IBAs) in the Americas, information on funding and the next meetings related with conservation and birds, web pages of interest and training opportunities. To receive this e-newsletter, send your email to birdlife@birdlife.org.ec

12 October 2002 -- Becky Whittam, BSC's Atlantic Canada Program manager and contract biologist Andrea Kingsley will be attending a conference on Avian Interactions with Wind Power Structures on 16-17 October in Jackson Hole, WY. The conference includes sessions on offshore wind energy, legal versus ecological implications, and quantitative methodologies for assessing avian impacts. Thanks to Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada for funding Becky and Andrea's travel!

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12 October 2002 -- BSC's Executive Director, Michael Bradstreet, will be attending the Global Council meetings of BirdLife International in Nigeria from 24-26 October. The agenda includes approval of a long-term strategy for the conservation of Important Bird Areas, review of BirdLife programs in Indonesia and Brazil, and planning for the World Bird Conservation Conference to be held in Durban, South Africa from 9-15 February 2004.

12 October 2002 -- BSC is pleased to host meetings of the Canadian Council of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, from 21-23 October. About 55 representatives from provincial and federal wildlife departments and national non-government organizations will meet at BSC's headquarters and national research centre in Port Rowan, ON. BSC is hosting a wine and cheese reception on 22 October.

12 October 2002 -- BSC staff members Steve Timmermans, Aquatic Surveys Scientist, and Rhonda Donley, Aquatic Surveys Assistant, will attend the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference from 16-18 October in Cleveland, OH, and present an update on the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program.

12 October 2002 -- BSC's Prairie Program Manager, Lisa Priestley-Takats, will present a seminar to Canadian Wildlife Service staff in Edmonton, AB, on 16 October (Bev Burns Boardroom, 2nd floor, Twin Atria, 12-1 pm) on BSC's volunteer-based owl surveys. In 2001, 678 participants recorded owls in NS, NB, ON, MB, AB and BC.

10 October 2002 -- BSC welcomes Ryan Zimmerling to its headquarters staff as Boreal Bird Scientist. For a photo and brief biography of Ryan, click here. BSC also welcomes Dr. Bill Montevecchi to its National Council of scientific advisors. For a photo and brief biography of Bill, click here.

9 October 2002 -- Thanks to Human Resources Development Canada, which has approved BSC's Job Creation Partnership proposal for a data entry assistant for 52 weeks.

9 October 2002 -- Becky Whittam, BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Manager, will be speaking to the Fredericton Nature Club tonight. Her talk, called For the Birds: Citizen Science in New Brunswick will focus on BSC's regional programs in New Brunswick, including the NB Nocturnal Owl Survey, the NB Forest Hawk and Spring Woodpecker Survey, and the High Elevation Landbird Program.

8 October 2002 -- 2002 was a banner year for Great Lakes Piping Plovers. A record total of 51 breeding pairs was recorded, a truly remarkable 59% increase above the 32 pairs recorded in 2001. The population also expanded to new breeding locations, including sites at Ludington and Alpena, as well as the long awaited return of nesting piping plovers to Tawas State Park in Michigan. We eagerly await the return of nesting Piping Plovers to the Canadian side of the Great Lakes. To download a 1-page newsletter on 2002 results, click here.

8 October 2002 -- Volunteers and staff spent from 3-8 October renovating the Tree Swallow cabin at the Tip station of Long Point Bird Observatory. The cabin was re-roofed, new entrance doors, re-located windows, new fridge and kitchen counters were installed, and the deck was enlarged. Thanks to volunteer Jim Matthews for leading this work party.

4 October 2002 -- BSC staff members Jon McCracken and Debbie Badzinski attended a project team meeting with Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Canadian Peregrine Foundation personnel today, in Burlington, ON, to plan for the installation of at least 3 satellite transmitters on nestling Bald Eagles next summer, using funds already secured by BSC through Ontario Power Generation.

4 October 2002 -- Updated breeding evidence and summary statistics maps for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas are available by clicking here. The maps represent both last year’s data and data submitted from this breeding season as of 4 October.

3 October 2002 -- Catherine Poussart, BSC's Project NestWatch coordinator, will present an overview of BSC and its programs to Canadian Wildlife Service staff in Québec City today.

2 October 2002 -- Four BSC staff members attended a Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee meeting for the Marsh Monitoring Program in Burlington, ON, today.

1 October 2002 -- BSC staff appeared on CBC Radio in Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary to promote Project FeederWatch. Staff encouraged listeners to get involved, and presented some of the findings from data that have been collected across the Prairies.

1 October 2002 -- BSC staff Michael Bradstreet and Peter Blancher attended the Partners in Flight (PIF) national working group meeting in Ottawa, ON, today. Partners In Flight is the landbird conservation initiative of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI). The PIF Continental Plan was a main item of discussion - and decisions were made about how to ensure Canada’s participation. CWS Research Scientist, Erica Dunn, and BSC's Peter Blancher were endorsed as technical representatives of PIF-Canada to the PIF Technical Committee, and Steve Wendt (CWS), Art Martel (NABCI) Coordinator and BSC's Michael Bradstreet were endorsed to provide advice on strategic and management issues.

30 September 2002 -- A new session of Parliament opened today. This means that the Species at Risk Act (SARA) has died a third death (all legislation from a previous session that is in the House or Senate dies on the order paper), but can be brought back at the same point in its journey through Parliament by unanimous consent by each party.

29 September 2002 -- The fall issue of BirdWatch Canada has been mailed. It features articles on the Fraser River Important Bird Area, the state of Nova Scotia's loons, the 2001-02 Project FeederWatch annual report, and an update on population trends of Great Lakes marsh birds and amphibians.

28 September 2002 -- Recent updates to BSC's web site include updates to Project FeederWatch (click here), Canadian Lakes Loon Survey (click here) and BC Beached Birds pages (click here). 2002 Birdathon prize winners winners have also been posted (click here).

27 September 2002 -- Catherine Poussart, BSC staff in Québec, participated in a meeting to address the implementation of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) in Québec. The one-day meeting was hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Service, Québec region, and attended by 23 participants from 8 different organizations.

26 September 2002 -- BSC's Atlantic Program Manager, Becky Whittam, will be attending the NB Federation of Naturalists board meeting and strategic planning session on 29-30 September in Fredericton, NB.

26 September 2002 -- BSC's Canadian co-partner in the Important Bird Areas program, the Canadian Nature Federation, recently issued a report on Canada's forgotten wild spaces. For a copy of the media release, click here, and to download the report (62 pages) click here (requires Adobe Acrobat). Release of the report has received attention on the British Broadcasting Corporation's web site, one of the most highly visited web sites in Europe. To access the BBC article, click here.

26 September 2002 -- As a group, grasslands birds are acknowledged as being the ones in most serious decline across North America. BSC staff have had a long and strong involvement in grassland bird research, conservation, and recovery planning in Ontario, with a special focus on Henslow’s Sparrows, Loggerhead Shrikes and Barn Owls. As such, BSC is pleased to host a 2-day, international, conference on grassland bird conservation issues in eastern North America at its headquarters on 26-27 September 2002. About 30 biologists and grasslands conservationists from across eastern Canada and the U.S., representing a variety of regional, state, provincial, and national government and non-government agencies, will be participating in the “Grassroots for Grassland Birds” conference. The conference is being organized by the Ontario Barn Owl Recovery Team.

26 September 2002 -- BSC staff members Dick Cannings and Peter Blancher will be attending the Partners in Flight Western Working Group meetings in Whitehorse, Yukon, from 6-9 October. Blancher will present two papers, one on "Population estimates and objectives for landbirds, continentally and in the northwest" as a introduction to breakout sessions, the other entitled "Landbirds in northwestern forests: perspectives on continental importance, and wintering grounds."

25 September 2002 -- Coordinated by the the Canadian Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Research Centre in Ottawa, BSC has joined a national project team that is working on a research program designed to help define “critical habitat” for a selection of endangered species in Canada. The species under study are Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Whooping Crane, Yellow-breasted Chat (British Columbia population), and Banff Springs Snail. One of the research emphases is to use existing detailed information on the habitat needs and known locations of the species and then apply state-of-the-art GIS technology (e.g. overlays of forest cover, size and type, soils, wetlands, climate, topography), to broadly map zones of “critical habitat.” Under Canada’s new Species At Risk Act (SARA), “critical habitat” needs to be defined and delineated for all threatened and endangered species. This project is considered to be a major test of the capacity for GIS technology to reliably determine and predict where critical habitat occurs. If successful, it will also help inform Recovery Teams of the locations of habitats that are likely to be useful for future endangered species recovery work, and ultimately the de-listing of endangered species.

24 September 2002 -- Scientists from Bird Studies Canada’s National Research Centre have released a study which reveals a severe decline of breeding Black Terns along the Great Lakes shoreline. The study compared data from 1991 and 2001 in coastal areas of the Canadian portions of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, St. Clair River, Detroit River and Niagara River. The data showed an apparent overall decline of about 35% over the 11-year period. Click on the following items to download: press release, backgrounder on Black Terns, fact sheet on BSC.

24 September 2002 -- BSC staff members Denis Lepage and Andrew Couturier are participating in two workshops related to the bird biodiversity web portal that BSC is developing as part of the Canadian Information System for the Environment (CISE). The bird component of CISE is being implemented at both the national and regional scales. BSC is responsible for creating the national component of the portal. The workshops, held in Vancouver and Hull, are designed to elicit input from bird conservation practitioners, planners, and scientists (mostly those people involved in the North American Bird Conservation Initiative), as to the specific functionality, data, and analytical services that they would like to see built in to the portal.

23 September 2002 -- Pictures and brief bios of newly-elected BSC Board members are now available online. To meet the new Board members, click on the following names: John Pratt, Diane Griffin, Tom Taylor, Patricia Hayes and John Spearn.

23 September 2002 -- Year 4 of the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey commenced in early September. In the last 3 years, surveys have been conducted at 235 sites in five regions along the coastline. In all, 50,371 waterbirds from 137 species have been recorded. Thanks to all participants!

22 September 2002 -- The Atlantic Region office of Bird Studies Canada is pleased to welcome Léa Olsen to the High Elevation Landbird Project. Léa's background in geography as well as piping plover monitoring and conservation will be put to good use as she works on a GIS-based analysis of Bicknell's Thrush habitat in Atlantic Canada.

22 September 2002 -- BirdLife International reports that a campaign to save the world's albatrosses and petrels from becoming entangled and killed on fishing hooks was given a boost today when the Prince of Wales issued a plea to nations attending an international wildlife conference to back a key treaty designed to protect these ocean wanderers. For a copy of BirdLife's press release on this issue, click here.

21 September 2002 -- BSC is pleased to announce that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk Program has contributed $40,000 in support of year 2 of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas.

20 September 2002 -- BSC has received $900,000 in funding from the Living Legacy Trust and the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation to study the effects of logging on bird populations in forested landscapes in northern and central Ontario. The funding is supporting an extensive field project with data collection from Algonquin Park to the Manitoba border. The project includes data collection using the atlas field methodology, so the data will be fully compatible with the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas project, and will considerably increase atlas coverage in this part of the province. Field work began in 2002 and will continue through 2003.

Work in 2002 focused on Algonquin Park and north-eastern Ontario in an area from Sudbury to Lake Abitibi and west to Lake Superior Provincial Park. Three crews of 4-5 people worked from late May through mid-July. A total of 72 atlas squares were fully covered for both breeding evidence and point counts, and substantial coverage was undertaken in an additional 26 squares. There were numerous highlights, but the large number of confirmed Northern Hawk Owl records was perhaps the biggest surprise. Work in 2003 will be in north-central and north-western Ontario. Thanks to Domtar, Tembec, Abitibi-Consolidated and Ontario Parks for logistical assistance.
19 September 2002 -- Introduced mammalian predators are responsible for over 40% of bird extinctions around the world. Over the last 6 years, Island Conservation at the University of Santa Cruz, CA, has worked with Mexican partners to remove mammals from 24 islands off northwest Mexico, eliminating the only short-term extinction threat for 69% of the region's breeding seabirds and one endemic landbird, the Clarion Wren. To learn more about the hands-on conservation work of this organization, click here.
18 September 2002 -- Tourists on board vessels operated by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) in the 2001/2002 season contributed US$5,500 for BirdLife International's Save the Albatross Campaign. For more information, click here.

17 September 2002 -- Fall migration at Canada's northernmost bird observatory at Lesser Slave Lake, AB, has been the busiest ever. Since 13 July, over 3200 birds have been banded, with record numbers of Yellow-rumped and Tennessee warblers. An irruption of Black-capped Chickadees has just begun. For regular updates on migration through central Alberta, check out Lesser Slave Bird Observatory's web page by clicking here.

16 September 2002 -- A study by BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund has identified high levels of selenium in adult female Lesser and Greater Scaup collected from lakes Ontario, Erie and St. Clair. Selenium burdens may be high enough to affect reproduction or survival of these birds. BSC has issued a news release (click here), backgrounder (click here) and fact sheet on the Fund (click here) on this issue that were picked up in the Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator, London Free Press, KW Record, Simcoe Reformer, Le Devoir, an Erie PA newspaper, and on CBC Montreal. For a preliminary scientific report click here.

15 September 2002 -- BSC's Annual Members Meeting was held in Port Rowan today with a grand total of 423 people attending.  John Pratt (St. John's NF), Tom Taylor (Markham, ON), Patricia Hayes (Vancouver, BC) Diane Griffin (Charlottetown, PE) and John Spearn (Kitchener, ON) have been elected to the Board for 3-year terms. Audited financial statements approved at the meeting, show a $700,000 increase in endowed assets. For a scrapbook of on line photos from the meeting, click here.

14 September 2002 -- BSC's Prairie Program Manager Lisa Takats Priestley will be attending a Steaks and Saw-whets night at Beaverhill Bird Observatory, AB, today where she will promote BSC's volunteer nocturnal owl surveys to those that come to see migration monitoring for saw-whet owls.

14 September 2002 -- BSC staff member Dick Cannings will chair the COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) Bird Species Committee meetings to be held in Calgary on September 15th and 16th. While in Calgary he will visit the Calgary Bird Banding Society's migration monitoring station at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

13 September 2002 -- The Canadian Wildlife Service and BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund conducted a lower Great Lakes Mute Swan survey in late August of 2002. Coastal regions from the Quebec border to the mouth of the St. Clair River were surveyed and 1373 Mute Swans were counted, with greatest numbers in the Detroit River (550) from Toronto to Hamilton (318) and in Lake St. Clair (196).

12 September 2002 -- The American Bird Conservancy and US National Wildlife Foundation have produced a joint report entitled The Birdwatcher's Guide to Global Warming, which can be downloaded by clicking here and then clicking on the Download button (Acrobat required). The booklet draws attention to the fact that the ranges of some birds have already changed (the Baltimore Oriole now longer breeds in Baltimore!) and migration times are changing.

11 September 2002 -- In BC, birds are starting to move through Vaseux Lake migration monitoring station. Things were very slow in the first week of September, with only 5-9 birds banded per day, but have picked up since then. Catbird and Willow Flycatcher numbers are dropping while Orange-crowned Warblers and Common Yellowthroats, Lincoln's and White-crowned Sparrows are starting to pick up. Other BC stations at Revelstoke and Mackenzie are having record-breaking seasons (perhaps due to high water levels at both sites--they're both located on Hydro reservoirs), while Vaseux and Rocky Point are comparatively quiet. A Blackpoll Warbler was netted at Vaseux on 26 August --the third record for the Okanagan. This species is common in the northern 2/3 of BC, but they all migrate east, not south. Belted Kingfishers used to be one of the trademarks of the Vaseux banding lists, with about 20 netted each year until the site was moved about a kilometre north. Although kingfishers are seen daily in good numbers, one hadn't been caught at the new site until yesterday, when one ran into the top panel on our most "woodland" net--deep in the bushes and away from the water. What the kingfisher was doing there is a mystery.

10 September 2002 -- BC Program Manager, Jeanne Roy, will speak to the Malaspina Naturalists tomorrow on 'how seabirds can be used to monitor environmental change,' On 12 September Jeanne will be participating in a Coastal Waterbird Survey count with a group in Powell River.

9 September 2002 -- BSC's Partners In Flight scientist Peter Blancher and Executive Director Michael Bradstreet attended a meeting in Peterborough with representatives of the Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Nature Conservancy of Canada. The purpose of the meeting was to devise a prospectus for the completion of landbird conservation plans in each of Ontario's 4 bird conservation regions.

7 September 2002 -- Like to surf the net? Bird Links to the World has been updated to include 15,077 links to bird-related web pages, and over 500 checklists from jurisdictions and sites around the world. Check it out by clicking here.

6 September 2002 -- Bird Studies Canada (Atlantic Region) will be holding a public consultation meeting for all interested members, volunteers, clubs, and organizations in the Maritimes region. The meeting will take place on Saturday 16 November in Sackville, New Brunswick. For more information, please download the announcement by clicking here or contact Becky Whittam, Atlantic Canada Program Manager (by clicking here).

5 September 2002 -- Updated breeding evidence and summary statistics maps for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas are available by clicking here. The maps represent both last year’s data and data submitted electronically from this breeding season as of 27 August.

4 September 2002 -- BSC's Ontario Programs Manager, Jon McCracken, has been called as an expert witness before the Ontario Municipal Board, over a proponent's plan to develop a golf course in potential habitat for Prothonotary Warblers, an endangered species in Canada.

3 September 2002 -- BSC conducted surveys of Black Tern and Forster’s Tern in 1991 and 2001 in coastal areas of the Canadian portions of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, St. Clair River, Detroit River and Niagara River. Both surveys utilized a combination of volunteer field assistance and a paid field crew. Eighty-nine volunteers participated in the 2001 survey.

In total, 1647 Forster’s Terns were detected at 22 colonies in the 2001 survey, whereas 1176 were detected at 24 colonies during the 1991 survey. Both the 1991 and 2001 survey data showed that about 95% of Ontario’s known population of Forster’s Terns breed in the wetlands of Lake St. Clair.

Overall, Black Tern numbers were considerably lower in Lakes St. Clair (-56%) and Erie (-78%) in 2001 than they were in 1991. Smaller declines were also recorded for Lake Huron (-18%) and Lake Ontario (-5%). In the 2001 survey, 717 Black Terns were observed at 40 colonies, while the 1991 survey estimated a total of 1168 birds distributed among 73 colonies. This yields an apparent overall decline of about 35% over the 11-year period.

To download a copy of the report, click here.

3 September 2002 -- BSC welcomes Laura Thompson as our new Communications Manager, effective today. For a picture and short bio of Laura, click here. BSC also welcomes Laura Talbot-Allan to the Board of Directors. For a picture and short bio of Laura, click here.

2 September 2002 -- BSC welcomes Susan Koenig, Ryan Love and Christopher Samuels who arrived from Jamaica on 2 September to participate in BSC's month-long advanced ornithological training program at the Long Point Bird Observatory. This training is being completed within the framework of a joint BSC - BirdLife Jamaica project to Enhance Capacity Development for Long-term Conservation of Jamaican Important Bird Areas. This project is being undertaken with financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

1 September 2002 -- BSC's 2001-02 audited financial statements can be downloaded by clicking here. Fund balances increased from $3.8 million to $5.2 million over the 12-month period ending 31 March 2002.

1 September 2002 -- BSC has just published a newsletter for participants in the new Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey. To download en electronic version, click here.

30 August 2002 -- BSC was pleased to host the opening ceremonies for Bayfest, the Port Rowan, ON community's annual special event where Approximately 150 people attended a wine and cheese at BSC's headquarters.

30 August 2002 -- Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday 30th August, 2002 -- As the world's Heads of Government arrive in Johannesburg, the next three days are make or break time for the Earth Summit. The three negotiating blocks are the European Union (EU), the JUSCANZ Group (US, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) and the G-77 (developing countries). The EU is holding out for a strong text with targets and timetables. Its determination is commendable. But it is politically isolated with both JUSCANZ (except maybe New Zealand) and some G-77 countries aligned against it. Political pressure for a weak text is overwhelming. The problem all along has been that the US has wanted to maintain the status quo and the EU has wanted real change, but without many bargaining chips to get it. This is a recipe for failure because it is easy to maintain the status quo and hard to effect real change. For BirdLife International's recommendations for a practical way forward, click here.

29 August 2002 -- Bird Studies Canada and the Canadian Nature Federation have concluded a new agreement and workplan as BirdLife Canada Co-partners. Highlights of the Agreement include an equal partnership between CNF and BSC; a commitment to clear, open and transparent communication; a strong commitment to the Canadian Important Bird Areas program and the Americas Regional Program; and regular reporting to BirdLife and partner boards. On 28-29 August both organizations completed a workplan to guide our activities until 2004. We are confident that our new agreement will strengthen us as co-partners in the BirdLife partnership, will further the objectives of BirdLife and will foster the bird conservation initiatives of both organizations.

28 August 2002 -- Bird Studies Canada is very grateful for a $90,000 grant recently awarded from the Government of Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk. The grant will be used to support a variety of stewardship-based projects being conducted in aid of forest birds at risk in southern Ontario. Working in concert with local landowners and land managers, community-based, multi-species conservation plans will be designed and initiated for several important forest complexes in the Carolinian zone. The project will also provide updated site-location information on the status of Acadian Flycatchers, Hooded Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers and other forest bird species at risk, and provide relevant information on their management and conservation to landowners.

23 August 2002 -- Becky Whittam, BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Manager will be spending the next week on Bon Portage Island, off southern Nova Scotia, one of 15 stations in the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network. Becky will be assisting Atlantic Bird Observatory staff in training students from Acadia University in bird monitoring techniques.

22 August 2002 -- Last April, Steve Wilcox, BSC's Administration and Development Manager attended a workshop on implementing the Important Bird Areas program in the Bahamas. The Bahamas National Trust has published a newsletter article on the workshop. To download a pdf file of the newsletter article, click here, and go to page 7. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the file. Acrobat Reader can be freely downloaded over the Internet by clicking here.

21 August 2002 -- Indigo-winged Parrots, considered one of the world's rarest birds, have been rediscovered in central Colombia this July by a team of young ornithologists who won a Gold Award in this year's BP Conservation Programme - a partnership of BP, BirdLife International and Fauna and Flora International. For a news release and a photo, click here.

20 August 2002 -- BSC staff recently completed field studies on various wetland dependent species within the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve's wetland complex. BSC's research team is one of several engaged in the Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Consortium to test a range of monitoring techniques to evaluate coastal wetland quality and the effects of various human-induced sources of wetland degradation. BSC's focus is to determine how well Marsh Monitoring Program derived bird and amphibian data can contribute to such an evaluation. The ultimate objective of the Consortium is to develop a coastal wetland monitoring program that can be applied affordably and effectively throughout the Great Lakes basin, for the purposes of evaluating coastal wetland health at both large (basin-wide) and small (local and regional) scales.

19 August 2002 -- BSC has been engaged by the Canadian Council of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative to a) identify threats to Canadian neotropical migrants that are most reliant on Mexican wintering grounds, b) continue efforts to harmonize the assessment of species status across all groups of birds, c) provide recommendations on possible realignment of Canadian bird conservation regions, and to d) improve data for northern Canadian bird species held in continental data bases. This work will be performed by Dr. Peter Blancher, BSC's Partners In Flight Scientist.

18 August 2002 -- Environment Canada is supporting BSC's efforts to create a pilot website that maps information on Canadian birds in a national portal for the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. In the pilot phase, BSC will link information on nest records, loon productivity and winter bird populations to a selection of Important Bird Areas across the country. Then, BSC will work with partners to use this portal to facilitate the development and the evaluation of bird conservation plans.

17 August 2002 -- BSC staff have just wrapped up another successful season of Hooded Warbler research in St. Williams Forest, near Long Point, Ontario. St. Williams supports the largest population of Hooded Warblers (a nationally Threatened species) in Canada. In 2002, there were 52 territorial males present, and 37 nests were located and monitored. In addition, 12 adult colour banded birds were re-sighted and 20 new adults, and 46 chicks were colour banded. Nest predation and parasitism rates were on the rise this year - 18 nests failed, and 11 were parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds.

This year, one of the research objectives was to determine Hooded Warbler territory size through playback of the male's call. A total of 18 territories were mapped, and we were amazed at the size of the territories. Some males seem to be defending half the forest! Once the data are complied and analyzed, results of the 2002 field season will be posted on our website. A special thanks to Jessie and Jody Allair for all their help with the Hooded Warbler project.

16 August 2002 -- Mike Russell of BSC Atlantic Region recently completed data entry for the first year of the New Brunswick Forest Hawk and Woodpecker Survey. Of 37 routes run by volunteers on crown and private land across the province, 32 had at least one woodpecker, and 17 had at least one hawk. The most common species of hawk detected was Broad-winged (26% of observations), while the most common species of woodpecker was the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (29% of observations). A detailed report will be written this fall and posted on BSC's web site. Thanks to all the volunteers who collected the data!

15 August 2002 -- BSC's new BC Beached Bird Survey has officially been launched. Participants will be conducting their first surveys along 58 beaches during the last week of August. If you live along the coast of British Columbia and would like to participate, please contact Jeanne Roy, BSC's BC Program manager, by clicking here.

13 August 2002 -- Updated breeding evidence and summary statistics maps for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas are available by clicking here. The maps represent both last year's data and data submitted from this breeding season as of 9 August.

12 August 2002 -- Andrew Couturier, BSC's GIS Analyst, has obtained a grant of software and training from ESRI Canada. The software will be used to support the development of dynamic, Internet mapping applications for BSC programs such as the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas.

11 August 2002 -- BSC's volunteer Tip Warden, Matt Hindle (click here for bio), has arrived back from England and opened the Long Point Bird Observatory Tip station. Matt's participation in LPBO programs is supported by the British Trust for Ornithology.

10 August 2002 -- The Baillie Fund section of BSC's web page has been updated to include a listing of all projects funded by the Baillie Fund in 2002. For details, click here.

9 August 2002 -- The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has listed the first 20 species under its new Endangered Species Act. For details, click here.

9 August 2002 -- BSC welcomes bird banders from across Ontario to the Ontario Bird Banding Workshop being held at the Old Cut Field Station and Visitor Centre. The workshop, co-hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), the Ontario Bird Banding Association and BSC, is being attended by 22 participants, and workshop facilitators Brenda Dale (CWS, Edmonton), and Ken Burton (California). The workshop will focus on moults and plumages of Canadian landbirds. Participants are from Long Point, Haldimand, Innis Point, Holiday Beach, Prince Edward Point, and Thunder Cape bird observatories; CWS, the Guelph and Temiskaming banding groups, and York and Trent universities. Special thanks to Eric and Lorna Machell for hosting a barbecue for participants on Saturday evening.

9 August 2002 -- BSC has received a $40,000 contribution from Environment Canada's Environmental Conservation Branch, Ontario Region, in support of the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program.

8 August 2002 -- BSC bids adieu to the 5 keen (very keen) teenage participants in this year's Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists Workshop. For the past week, Russell Cannings (Naramata BC), Jesse Pakkala (St. Thomas, ON), Alex Parker (South River, ON), Simon Turland (Teeswater, ON) and Tony Wilson (Long Point, ON) have learned how to band birds, make field sketches and keep field notes, and prepare ornithological study skins. In their competitive big day of birding, the YOWs split into teams and recorded 110 and 111 species, a very respectful total for this time of year.  BSC's Landbird Programs Coordinator, Keith Larson, and 1995 YOW graduate Stu Mackenzie provided great leadership for this year's cohort.

8 August 2002 -- The Partners in Flight (PIF) Database Committee will meet in Brighton, Colorado this weekend and early next week to complete a revision of landbird global scores in the PIF species assessment database. Canadian members of this Committee are Peter Blancher (BSC's PIF Scientist) and Erica Dunn (CWS Research Scientist). Discussion will focus on how best to use the assessment data in a Continental Plan for Landbird Conservation.

7 August 2002 -- There are now TWO reports of movements of previously colour banded birds in the Ontario Loggerhead Shrike population moving from the Carden Plain east to the Napanee Plain and ONE report of a bird moving west in the opposite direction. Gene flow is flowing! In addition, a keen participant in the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas called to report fledged young in his atlas square near Lake Simcoe. Though the site isn’t new to us (historically occupied about 10 years ago), biologists followed up on the report and it turns out that one of the adults was originally banded as a nestling on the Carden Plain in 2001.

7 August 2002 -- Ontario Power Generation has granted BSC $25,000 to place satellite transmitters on several fledgling Bald Eagles in 2003. While eagle populations in the Great lakes basin are increasing, adult longevity is still low, and little is known about the distribution and ecology of young birds after they leave the nest and before they breed, usually at 4-5 years of age. The satellite study will reveal where the young birds spend the winter and summer seasons as juveniles, and may indicate where pollutants are being acquired. It is thought that toxic chemical loads are reducing the longevity of adult birds.

The Canadian Wildlife Service has also supported our volunteer monitoring of eagle nesting in southern Ontario with a $6,000 grant. BSC biologist, Ian Richards, is completing this year's monitoring report, which will be posted on BSC's website in September.

5 August 2002 -- BSC welcomed 2 new staff members to our headquarters this past week. For photos and short bios of our new staff, click on the following names: Rhonda Donley (Aquatic Surveys Assistant) and Susan Debreceni (Volunteer Projects Research Asst).

4 August 2002 -- BSC has installed a new feature on Bird Links to the World. For each regional (continental) page, you can obtain a complete bird checklist list in your preferred taxonomic classification (Sibley & Monroe, Clements, Howard and Moore, AOU and the French Commission Internationale pour les noms français d'oiseaux.). And form continental pages you can access more than 500 checklists currently available, including those for all countries, US states, Canadian provinces, and many endemic regions (islands, etc). This should prove a very popular tool with birdwatchers from around the world. Have a look at Bird Links to the World by clicking here and have fun!!!

1 August 2002 -- BSC's report on "The State of Nova Scotia's Loons," has had quite a bit of response from the media in NS, including two interviews for BSC's volunteer Loon Ambassadors, and an article in the Halifax Daily News. The report can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking here.

30 July 2002 -- Under contract to the Canadian Wildlife Service National Wildlife Research Centre (NWRC), BSC has posted digital maps of Ontario Breeding Bird Survey Routes on the Internet. The maps portray the location of Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) routes relative to various topographic features. During the next couple of years (including this past breeding season), ON BBS surveyors will use the maps to identify their stop locations. BSC and NWRC hope to use the stop location information to, among other things, analyse habitat-population relationships. The ON PDF map files can be accessed by clicking here. Eventually, CWS and BSC hope to post such maps for all regions of the country.

29 July 2002 -- The Vaseux Lake, BC, station of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network station has opened for the fall with Gabriel David as bander in charge. It has been pretty quiet this year--only 52 birds netted yesterday and 34 today. Nothing unusual in the nets so far; Catbirds are in the lead as usual. The best bird yesterday was a Double-crested Cormorant (very rare in the BC interior) flying up the Okanagan River. We're clearly dealing with mainly resident birds, though an Orange-crowned Warbler netted today (a recap from 23 August last year) was obviously an immigrant from somewhere, if only the adjacent plateaus. Todd Hunter (last year's bander in charge) helped out for the first couple of days, a valuable bit of transition.

25 July 2002 -- Lisa Takats Priestley, BSC's Prairie Program Coordinator, is attending a training workshop for bird banders at Last Mountain Bird Observatory, SK, this weekend. The workshop, hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Service and LMBO focused on advanced ageing and sexing techniques.

24 July 2002 -- Thanks to volunteer Heather Bryan, who has finished entering data from the 2002 BC Nocturnal Owl Survey as well as filling in a few gaps of associated data from last year. Participants can expect to receive this year's newsletter in September.

23 July 2002 -- Dick Cannings, BSC's Christmas Bird Count Coordinator, attended a technical meeting of the Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture today in Vancouver, BC.

22 July 2002 -- Data from the Alantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey are rolling in! So far, 83 data sheets have been received from NB, 43 from NS, 19 from PEI and 5 from Newfoundland and Labrador. Thanks to all the volunteers who collected valuable data for this program.

21 July 2002 -- Peter Blancher, BSC's PIF Scientist, has been invited by the Mexican government and NABCI-Mexico to participate in a workshop assessing the status of Mexican Birds, July 21-24 in Tepoztlan. The meeting will bring together Mexican experts and a few scientists from the U.S. and Canada to review current data and plan future evaluation work. One objective is to coordinate similar activities and databases in all three countries, to the extent feasible. The meeting is sponsored by NAFTA's Commission for Environment Cooperation.

20 July 2002 -- UPM Kymmene, a forestry company based out of Miramichi, NB, is providing $5,000 in support for the New Brunswick Forest Hawk and Woodpecker Survey. The survey, which was launched this spring, is also supported by the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy (NB-DNRE). So far, data from nearly 30 volunteer-run routes have been returned to BSC's Atlantic Canada office. BSC thanks all volunteers, as well as UPM Kymmene and the NB-DNRE for their help with this project.

19 July 2002 -- Bird Studies Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service have published a pamphlet on conserving habitat for Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers, migratory birds that share essential breeding habitat in the forests of Ontario’s Carolinian Zone. Both species prefer large, mature woodlands for nesting. In Ontario’s Carolinian Zone, the preferred habitat of these birds has diminished by as much as 90 percent since European settlement. Acadian Flycatchers are listed as an endangered species in Canada, with only 35 to 50 nesting pairs occurring annually. Hooded Warblers are a nationally threatened species, with just 150 to 210 nesting pairs each year. Preserving these populations in Canada is contingent on conserving the remaining Carolinian forests in Ontario.

The publication is designed to inform interested parties about the species and their habitat requirements and provide landowners with forest management guidelines designed to maintain and enhance Carolinian forest habitat. To download a complete copy of the brochure, click here. Hard copies of the publication are available from BSC headquarters by calling 1-888-448-2873.

18 July 2002 -- The summer issue of BirdWatch Canada is in the mail. The newsletter contains feature articles on the numbers of landbirds breeding in Canada, BSC's conservation and development work in Jamaica, nominees for positions on the BSC Board, and the annual Christmas Bird Count report.

17 July 2002 -- BSC senior scientist Denis Lepage and Program NestWatch coordinator Catherine Poussart met with Albin Tremblay and Raymond Sarazin, from the Canadian Wildlife Service - Québec Region, on July 17 in Québec City. The meeting was a follow-up to the recent signing of a partnership agreement signed between Bird Studies Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service-Québec Region for the development of a Québec program office by BSC.

16 July 2002 -- BSC staff member, Dick Cannings, attended the Sage Thrasher Recovery Team meeting in Penticton, BC today.

15 July 2002 -- BSC's Christmas Bird Count Coordinator, Dick Cannings, has accepted a Board position with the BC Field Ornithologists. BCFO has been a strong supporter of BSC over the past few years.

14 July 2002 -- BSC Atlantic has received $15,000 in support of the New Brunswick Nocturnal Owl Survey from the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund (ETF), along with $10,000 in support of "Citizen Science in New Brunswick: monitoring bird populations through volunteers" from the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund (WTF). The latter will support the Owl Survey, Hawk and Woodpecker Survey, and the High Elevation Landbird Program (HELP) in New Brunswick. We are grateful for the continued support of both of these agencies.

13 July 2002 -- Lisa Takats represented BSC at the Bluebird Festival at Ellis Bird Farm near Lacombe, Alberta today. Lisa gave a talk to the public about BSC and its programs and asked for volunteers to participate in the Alberta owl monitoring program.

12 July 2002 -- Scott Petrie, Research Director of BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, gave a talk at the Delta Waterfowl and Wetland Research Stations summer symposium today on the population dynamics and problems associated with Mute Swans on the lower Great Lakes.

11 July 2002 -- BSC has an immediate opening for a Development Coordinator for the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network. The Coordinator is responsible for building capacity (personnel and funding) on behalf of the Network, both in terms of helping individual stations become more self-sufficient and in terms of helping BSC achieve its mandate to provide scientific support.   For the complete job posting, click here.

10 July 2002 -- BirdLife International today applauded the European Commission’s proposed green reforms to the Common Agriculture Policy, hailing them as signalling an end to “farming for subsidies”. For a complete copy of the news release, click here.

9 July 2002 -- BSC has an immediate opening for a Communications Manager. The Communications Manage writes, and supervises the writing, editing and production of, materials required for BSC's volunteer and member communications and fundraising efforts.   For the complete job posting, click here.

8 July 2002. The Northern Bald Ibis, thought to be extinct since 1989 has been rediscovered breeding in Syria. For the full BirdLife International press release, and a photo of the bird, click here.

30 June 2002 -- The Hon. Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Community Development in AB, has announced a $5,000 grant to BSC in support of the development of a Marsh Monitoring Program in Alberta. Lisa Takats, BSC's Prairie Program Coordinator, has been working this summer to develop and evaluate a protocol for marsh birds and amphibians in the prairie pothole region.

28 June 2002 -- BSC volunteers have completed bird surveys on four of 15 Breeding Bird Census plots at Long Point, ON. Vegetation surveys of all plots will be completed from 29 June -14 July. The bird and vegetation surveys are undertaken to gauge the recovery of Long Point from over-browsing by white-tailed deer. BSC conducts this work with the support of the Canadian Wildlife Service.

27 June 2002 -- BSC welcomes Keith Larson as the new Landbird Program Coordinator for BSC’s programs at Long Point Bird Observatory. Keith is replacing Jody Allair in this position.

Keith Larson has many years of experience in bird banding, migration monitoring and bird population assessment for a variety of government and non-government organizations. Much of his time in recent years has been spent working on ornithological projects in Alaska, California, and Hawaii. Among his other accomplishments, he has written a detailed technical manual on ageing and sexing the birds of Alaska. Keith has a keen interest in ornithology, particularly migration ecology, and is looking forward to working at one of the world’s premiere migration monitoring field stations at Long Point. His wife, Anja, who will also be joining us this summer as a volunteer field biologist, is currently completing a degree in botany and restoration ecology at the University of Hawaii.

Returning to his beloved roots in Ontario’s north country, Jody Allair is leaving Long Point to coordinate the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory migration monitoring program, which is a joint project of BSC, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Wildlife Assessment Program, and the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists. Jody’s wife, Jessie, will be attending Thunder Bay’s Lakehead University to take a teaching degree. We wish Jody and Jess the best of luck in their new pursuits, and thank them both for all they’ve contributed to BSC during their tenure here!

26 June 2002 -- BSC Atlantic staff, along with a number of keen volunteers, have completed nearly 80 survey routes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for the new "High Elevation Landbird Program" (HELP). The survey is designed to track population changes in Bicknell's Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Fox Sparrow and Blackpoll Warbler in areas of high elevation, and to learn more about the habitat of these species, but especially the Bicknell's Thrush, in Atlantic Canada. For more information, click here.

25 June 2002 -- With the support of the Canadian Wildlife Service, BSC has been monitoring the population size and productivity of Hooded Warblers in the St. Williams Crown Forest, ON. So far, 40 territorial males have been found. Nesting is about 2 weeks late, a result of a severe cold snap in mid May.

24 June 2002 -- Breeding evidence maps and summary statistics maps for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas have recently been updated. The new maps include all of last year's approved records plus any new data from the current season that has been entered online. The new maps are available by clicking here.

23 June 2002 -- The Hon. David Anderson, Minister of the Environment for Canada, visited BSC headquarters and property this afternoon. Minister Anderson had previously toured Long Point National Wildlife Area with Canadian Wildlife Service staff. The Minister was accompanied by Environment Canada staff John Mills, Gary McCullough, Jeff Robinson and Paul Ashley and by his executive assistant Kelly Morgan.

22 June 2002 -- Dick Cannings and his son Russell undertook their Breeding Bird Survey on this morning from Summerland up to Apex Mountain ski area, BC. The first section is a lovely little dirt road with essentially *no* traffic, the last half is a paved secondary road which usually has very little traffic. All went well until about stop 35, when a Harley-Davidson roared by. Dick knew the national HOG (Harley Owners Group) convention was in town with about 2000 bikes in the area (they particularly like the Naramata Road) and figured this guy was one of the few who liked getting up early. But then 20 went by in a pack, then 20 more... By the time Dick and Russell finished the route, several hundred bikes had roared by, luckily most in groups so birds could still be counted in the 'quiet' gaps. Dick and Russ counted 392 more bikes coming up the hill (presumably to some breakfast function at the ski resort) as they went down. The HOGs didn't affect the results too much -- an average 77 species was recorded and the species that were down in numbers were typical of the grasslands and ponderosa pine woodlands in the first half of the route. Indeed, one new species was added to the overall route list (Dick has been doing this route for 30 years)--Least Flycatcher (to add to the usual empidonax flycatcher list of Gray, Dusky, Hammond's, Willow and Pacific-slope).

20 June 2002 -- A Loggerhead Shrike, which had been originally banded by BSC as a nestling on the Napanee Plain in eastern Ontario in 2001, was retrapped as an adult female nesting on the Carden Plain in central Ontario. Earlier this year, we had a shrike that moved in the opposite direction (from Carden to Napanee). This is definitive evidence that the two subpopulations of shrikes are mixing genetically.

18 June 2002 -- Participants in the Canadian Lakes Loons Survey can now submit their observations online. Only registered participants can access the online data entry site by entering their participant (volunteer) number and their postal code as their initial password. To enter your data online, click here.

Les participants à l'Inventaire canadien des Plongeons huards peuvent dorénavant soumettre leurs données par le biais de l'Internet. Seuls les participants inscrits au projet peuvent accéder à la page d'entrée de données en entrant leur numéro de participant et leur code postal comme mot de passe initial. Pour soumettre vos données, appuyez ici.

17 June 2002 -- The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas has released a CD-ROM to help atlas participants learn bird songs. The CD-ROM, known as "Bluebird" was designed and written by Antonio Salvadori, retired professor of computer science and atlas participant. It contains photos and vocalizations of almost all of the birds that breed in Ontario. The user can select lists of birds by features such as habitat, region or song-type, and there is a quiz feature. The CD-ROM has been distributed to atlas regional coordinators for distribution free of charge to atlas participants. It is hoped that the CD-ROM will help people learn bird songs and enhance their abilities to do point counts, which are a vital component of the atlas project.

16 June 2002 -- BSC will soon launch a new regional program - the British Columbia Beached Bird Survey - to begin in August 2002. Similar in scope to BSC's Cape Breton Beached Bird Survey, in NS, participants will walk a stretch of beach once every month from August to April, keeping an eye out for beached birds. Our initial target for the first year is 50 beaches. By participating in beached bird surveys, volunteers make a significant contribution to environmental stewardship by helping to develop a baseline index of oiled birds. If you would like to participate in the BC Beached Bird Survey, please contact Jeanne Roy by clicking here.

15 June 2002 -- Researcher Dr. David Hussell has recorded the latest breeding season for Tree Swallows at Long Point, ON, in 34 years. Median dates of clutch initiation at 3 sites were 28 May, 30 May and 1 June which are 11, 13 and 10 days later than average, respectively. They are also 1, 5 and 4 days later than the previous record-late medians. Clutch initiations were also highly synchronous, both between and within study sites. 75% of clutches at the Tip of Long Point were initiated in a 3-day period, 31 May - 2 June. Over 90% of clutches at all sites were started between 27 May and 2 June.

14 June 2002 -- The bander training workshop being organized for Ontario banders from 9-11 August at BSC's Long Point Bird Observatory is now fully booked (20 plus participants from around the province). The workshop is being organized, and supported, by BSC, the Ontario Bird Banding Association and the Canadian Wildlife Service. Ken Burton is the lead workshop facilitator/trainer.

12 June 2002 -- BSC's Ontario Program Manager, Jon McCracken, is attending a 3-day workshop on Species at Risk , being held at Dorset, ON from 12-14 June. Hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the workshop agenda includes items on species at risk communications strategies, an overview of the new federal legislation being tabled ("SARA"), updates on species at risk programs in all the various OMNR districts in Ontario, and specific recovery work that is taking place on a variety of species (plants, invertebrates, reptiles, birds and mammals) and ecosystems in the province. As co-chair of the National Recovery Team, Jon will be making a presentation on efforts being made to help recover the endangered Prothonotary Warbler in Canada.

11 June 2002 -- After the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in late December 2001that Mute Swans had to be included on the Migratory Bird Treaty List (the Mute Swan is not native to North America). Maryland and Rhode Island have since been granted permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to control populations by addling eggs. In Ontario, BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, under a permit from the Canadian Wildlife Service, is conducting research on the dietary intake and nutrient reserve dynamics of Mute Swans throughout the annual cycle. This involves the collection of birds at Long Point, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River.

10 June 2002 -- Over the last year, BSC members have donated more than $5,000 to help protect the habitat of Ecuador's most endangered birds. These gifts have allowed the Jocotoco Foundation to double the size of the Buenaventura Reserve (to 700 ha), to add 518 ha of Choco forest to the Canande Reserve, and protect the world's only known population of the Pale-headed Brush Finch. To learn more about the Jocotoco Foundation, click here.

9 June 2002 -- BSC has hired 10 summer assistants to help collect information on the distribution and abundance of birds in Ontario's boreal forest. Welcome to Marc Sardi (Montreal), Andrew Keveaney (Etobicoke), Rachel Bryan (Thunder Bay), Fergus Nicoll (Barrie), Kathy Parker (South River), John Hasselmayer (Sarnia), Christopher Kaloudas (Kingston), Sandra Pusey (London), Myles Falconer (Lindsay) and Cindy Jahn-Cartwright (Port Elgin).

8 June 2002 -- On 1 June, Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Jerry Ouellette announced $800,000 in funding for BSC to develop a Natural Heritage Events Room, as part of its new national headquarters and research facility. Minister Ouellette toured the new headquarters which overlooks Long Point's Inner Bay on Lake Erie and participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony. In addition to the Natural Heritage Events Room, 10 or more interpretative kiosks will be established with BSC at major natural heritage sites in southern Ontario, including the following provincial parks: Long Point, Pinery, Port Burwell, Rondeau, Presqu'ile, MacGregor Point and Turkey Point.

7-16 June 2002 -- BSC staff member Dick Cannings is traveling around the province over the next week to make presentations on BSC and its programs: 7 June -- BC Field Ornithologists meeting in Williams Lake; 9 June -- Kamloops and 100 Mile naturalists; 12 June -- White-headed Woodpecker Recovery Team meeting in Penticton; and 13-16 June -- North American Bluebird Society meeting in Penticton.

5 June 2002 -- BSC Atlantic Staff Melanie Ball and Mike Russell have recently completed 3 workshops to help train volunteers for the new High Elevation Landbird Program (HELP) being launched this month. The workshops were held in Eskasoni, NS (attended by representatives of Stora-Enso Port Hawkesbury Ltd., Eskasoni Fish & Wildlife Council, and Cape Breton Highlands National Park), Edmunston NB (attended by representatives of Fraser Papers Inc. and the Madawaska County Ornithological club), and Dalhousie NB (attended by representatives of Bowater Forestry and local naturalist clubs). So far, the workshops have resulted in 18 routes being assigned to volunteers who are willing to climb mountains and conduct surveys for Bicknell’s Thrushes and other high elevation species in the early morning and late evening hours of June.

4 June 2002 -- 116 completed survey forms have been submitted so far from the 2002 BC Nocturnal Owl Survey. Noticeable trends include a big spike in the numbers of Boreal Owls, especially in the Yukon (about twice as many as last year). Barred Owls have rebounded in the south, but seem to be scarce in the north. Great Horned Owls are starting to increase again in the north after last year's low numbers. Speicla Flammulated Owl survey kits have been sent to a number of people in the southern Interior resulting in reports of good numbers in the Hat Creek area.

3 June 2002 -- BSC Atlantic Canada staff member, Beth Flanigan, has completed the scanning of all of the cards in the Maritimes Nest Record Scheme. The total number of records is 48, 979 cards collected by 1036 observers. The founder of the Maritime Nest Record Scheme, Tony Erskine, contributed 2367 records himself! The top 5 observers were: Bernard Forsythe of Kings Co. NS (5194), Ron D. Weir of Kingston ON. (4463 records), George H. Ball, Cape Breton, NS (3557), David and Ansel Campbell of Carlton Co. NB (3130), and David Christie of Mary's Point NB (2088). The oldest record, a Chipping Sparrow nest recorded by R. W. Tufts of Kings Co. NS, is from the year 1895, 107 years ago!

2 June 2002 -- The opening of Bird Studies Canada's new headquarters and national research centre was a great success. Fine weather, bagpipes, ribbon-cutting, lots of wine, a great perch dinner for 560 guests and 798 people registered for the 2-day event held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. Thanks to everyone for making our opening such a memorable event!

30 May 2002 -- A bird which had been thought to be possibly extinct has been rediscovered by Brazilian scientists in the Amazon rainforest. The Golden-crowned Manakin has been found by bird researchers forty-five years after it was last seen and first discovered. However, the finders fear that its survival could be threatened by continued destruction of the rainforest for timber extraction, creation of pasture and road development. For more information, click here.

28 May 2002 -- Bird Studies Canada has been contracted by Environment Canada to write guidelines for environmental assessment of wind power projects, particularly with respect to the impact of wind turbines on migratory birds. BSC's report will include mitigation measure for incorporation into design and installation of wind turbines as well as the development of a standard monitoring approach.

27 May 2002 -- The BC Nocturnal Owl Survey has expanded to include surveys for the little-known Flammulated Owl. This species calls primarily in late May and June, unlike other owls which call in late winter and early spring. Surveys will take place from 25 May to 24 June, and consist of 10 to 30 stops at 0.8 km intervals along roads through the owl's preferred habitat -- mixed forests of Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. The Flammulated Owl is a small (50 gm/2 ounce) owl found in the mountains of western North America. It is insectivorous, and the Canadian and American populations are entirely migratory, presumably wintering in southern Mexico and Central America. The Canadian population is designated Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. For more information on the survey, contact BSC staff member Dick Cannings, by clicking here.

26 May 2002 -- Over 700 people have now registered for events associated with BSC's grand opening next weekend (1-2 June). 538 people will attend the fish-fry banquet on Saturday evening, at which the headquarters site will be declared officially open (by a bird!). Staff, contractors and volunteers have been working around the clock to get ready. If the weather, and the birds, cooperate we will have a great event. Hope to see you there!

25 May 2002 -- BSC staff member Beth Flannigan will attend the annual general meeting of the Nova Scotia Federation of Naturalists on 1-2 June with copies of BirdWatch Canada, BSC's recently-completed Nova Scotia Canadian Lakes Loon Survey report, and various brochures and posters on BSC programs.

25 May 2002 -- Scott Petrie, Research Director of BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund attended the Huron Fringe Birding Festival (MacGregor Point, ON) and gave a presentation on satellite tracking of eastern population Tundra Swans.

24 May 2002 -- Recent surveys by BirdLife International along the Rio Papallacta revealed heavy siltation at a site where OCP is constructing the Trans Ecuadorian oil pipeline. The pipeline will be run by a consortium of US, Italian, Canadian, Spanish, Argentinian and Ecuadorian companies comprising Occidental, Agip, EnCan, Kerr-McGee and Repsol-YPS. For more information, click here.

24 May 2002 -- BSC and the Canadian Nature Federation have renewed their partnership as the Canadian representative of BirdLife International. BirdLife is a global partnership of conservation organizations, working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The BirdLife program focuses efforts around four important aspects of bird conservation: species, sites, habitats and people.

23 May 2002 -- The latest issue of the scientific journal The Condor (Vol. 104, p. 255-270) contains an article by BSC's senior scientists Denis Lepage and Charles Francis that compares the annual population indices of wintering birds in Ontario between 1976 and 1997. The analyses show that data from Project FeederWatch are well correlated with data from Christmas Bird Counts for most species, confirming the idea that both surveys are providing a good measure of the real population levels. The article, entitled Do Feeder Counts reliably indicate bird population changes? 21 years of winter bird counts in Ontario, Canada, also discusses the relative merits and limitations of each survey.

22 May 2002 -- BSC Atlantic Canada staff member Beth Flannigan has finished electronically scanning the 48,900 nest records cards in the Maritimes Nest Records Scheme! She is currently checking the database, writing a short report, and creating backups on CD. She claims not to be brain dead, although her back is quite sore!

21 May 2002 -- Scott Petrie, Research Director of BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund gave a deputation to Norfolk County Council today on the importance of Long Point for waterfowl and the work Fund.

18-19 May -- The 5th annual Okanagan BC Meadowlark Festival was a great success this weekend with over 100 events, including a banquet for 310 people with Robert Bateman as guest speaker. The festival started off with the launch of BSC staff member Dick Canning's new book -- The BC Roadside Naturalist.

17 May 2002 -- BSC has launched a new Atlantic Canada survey called HELP – for High Elevation Landbird Program. A protocol for surveying Bicknell's Thrush and other species that nest at high altitudes in the east has been widely reviewed and will be posted as a PDF on BSC's web site soon. Plans are in full-swing for the field season; the first training workshop will take place in Eskasoni, NS (Cape Breton), hosted by the Eskasoni Fish & Wildlife Council (a council of 5 native bands in Cape Breton). Other groups attending will include Park Wardens from Cape Breton Highlands National park and employees of Stora Enso Forestry Inc. We hope that staff and volunteers will be out in the field surveying routes by 4 June. If you would like to volunteer for this program, contact Becky Whittam, by clicking here.

17 May 2002 -- BSC staff and several parent volunteers spent the day at DoverWood Public School in Port Dover, ON supervising four Grade 6 classes as they made papier maché birds as centre-pieces for the tables at our headquarters grand opening. The kids did a wonderful job making original and highly interpretive Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Owls, and Blue Jays. Before coming to BSC, the birds will be on display at the school's open house on the 29 May.

16 May 2002 -- The Long Point Region Conservation Authority has contracted BSC to inventory breeding bird communities on 13 forested tracts that it owns and manages.

15 May 2002 -- BSC staff member Becky Whittam today attended a workshop on wildlife habitat as part of the Federal-Provincial Wildlife Conference in Sackville, NB.

15 May 2002 -- BSC staff member Jeanne Roy attended the grand opening of the Great Blue Heron Nature House today in Chilliwack, BC. The 120-ha floodplain, formerly the Department of National Defence Wet Bridging Area, is home to over 90 Great Blue Heron nests. The site will now be managed by the City of Chilliwack for the protection of the heronry and the enjoyment of nature-lovers.

14 May 2002 -- BSC today launched a new national program called Project NestWatch. To participate, volunteers are asked to search for bird nests near their homes, follow them through the nesting season and report their observations on BSC's web site. This project is made possible with with support from The George Cedric Metcalf Foundation and in collaboration with provincial and regional Nest Records Schemes across Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service. To access Project NestWatch, click here.

14 mai 2002 -- ÉOC inaugure un nouveau programme national, le Programme de suivi des oiseaux nicheurs. Pour y participer, les volontaires doivent chercher des nids d'oiseaux, les suivre tout au long de la période de nidification et puis rapporter leurs observations sur le site Internet d'ÉOC. Le Programme de suivi des oiseaux nicheurs est possible grâce au soutien financier de la George Cedric Metcalf Foundation et à la collaboration des Fichiers de nidification d'oiseaux provinciaux et régionaux du Canada et du Service canadien de la faune. Pour accéder au programme, appuyez ici.

11 May 2002 -- BSC's BC Program Manager, Jeanne Roy, is attending the Federation of BC Naturalists Annual General Meeting in Victoria from 9-12 May and will make a presentation about the work of Bird Studies Canada.

10 May 2002 -- BSC staff member Dick Cannings is attending the Birds and Bears Festival in Golden, BC today and then spending 2 days at the Wings over the Rockies birding festival in Invermere.

9 May 2002 -- The eastern subspecies of the Loggerhead Shrike is an endangered species that has largely disappeared from its northeastern range. Small remnant populations now occur only in ON and southeastern MB. BSC has been working with the national recovery team for many years, and embarked on an intensive colour banding project in 1999. Over the last 3 years, 464 shrikes have been colour banded in the three surviving “core populations” in ON. Many of these birds have returned to the same general areas to breed in subsequent years. More exciting is the return of a shrike that was originally banded as a nestling on 4 July 2001 on the Carden Plain (central ON). This bird has just been re-sighted on 8 May 2002 by shrike researcher Chris Grooms about 180 kilometres to the east on the Napanee Plain. This proves that there is movement of shrikes (and shrike genes) among the surviving ON core populations. Until now, there was no way to tell if shrikes from the core populations were mixing. The bird in question (believed to be a female) is paired and starting to nest.

6 May 2002 -- BSC's Partners In Flight Scientist, Dr. Peter Blancher, attended a population objectives workshop for Bird Conservation Region 9 (the Okanagan valley, BC) today.

5 May 2002 -- The Shell Environmental Fund is supporting the production of a Field Guide to Beached Birds for use in Beached Bird Surveys in Atlantic Canada. This guide will help volunteers - even those who aren't birders! - identify the bird species that wash up on beaches, and will therefore greatly increase the quality of data collected by surveyors. Thanks Shell! Shell Environmental Fund is supporting the production of a Field Guide to Beached Birds for use in Beached Bird Surveys in Atlantic Canada. This guide will help volunteers - even those who aren't birders! - identify the bird species that wash up on beaches, and will therefore greatly increase the quality of data collected by surveyors. Thanks Shell!

4 May 2002 -- BSC Atlantic employees Melanie Ball and Becky Whittam attended a conference entitled BEYOND THE DATA: integrating research findings into forest management planning and operations today at the Université de Moncton, sponsored by the Sustainable Forest Management Network. Examples of how research can be used to influence forest management were presented from Sweden, Alberta, New Brunswick and elsewhere, and a lively discussion capped off the session at the end of the day.

3 May 2002 -- BSC has just launched the New Brunswick Forest Hawk Survey, thanks to the support of NB-DNRE. Mike Russell will coordinate the volunteer based survey of Broad-winged Hawks and Northern Goshawks during the survey period from 18 May - 16 June. The survey will use playback of both species, but volunteers will be asked to record all raptors and woodpeckers detected (as in the ON RSHA and Spring Woodpecker Survey). To volunteer, click here.

2 May 2002 -- The spring issue of BSC's publication, BirdWatch Canada, was mailed today. The issue contains feature articles on Tundra Swan migration, Project NestWatch and Birding on the Web.

1 May 2002 -- BSC staff (Becky Whittam, Jon McCracken, Charles Francis and Mary Gartshore) have published an article on The effects of selective logging on nest-site selection and productivity of hooded warblers (Wilsonia citrina) in Canada in the Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 644-654. They studied Hooded Warblers in two forest tracts differing in composition and management in southwestern Ontario. They found that this species clearly prefers to nest in forest gaps (created naturally or through selective logging), because of the dense shrubby layer that grows up when a gap is formed. The authors make recommendations for forest management that will benefit Hooded Warblers and other gap-dependent species in the fragmented forests of southern Ontario. To download a copy of the article, click here.

29 April 2002 -- BSC's PIF Scientist, Dr. Peter Blancher, will spend today and tomorrow participating in the development of the U.S. National Partners In Flight Plan. The workshop, held at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca NY, will examine the process of setting population objectives for a minimum of all national/continental watch list species. The U.S. watch list currently is based on global species assessment scores contained in the PIF Assessment database at Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (click here).

28 April - 4 May 2002 -- BSC staff members Michael Bradstreet and Dick Cannings attended and participated in the 25th anniversary meetings of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada held in White Point, NS. At the meetings, the Western Screech-owl macfarlenai subspecies was listed as Endangered and the kennicottii subspecies was listed as Special Concern. For a news release on the meeting, click here.

28 April 2002 -- BSC is selling a new French bird feeding book. The publisher is adding a Project FeederWatch insert in all books sold. BSC has recently created a web page listing our bird feeding books (click here).

27 April 2002 -- A shocking 247 (76%) of Asia's threatened birds are forest dependent species that face extinction because of logging and forest clearance for agriculture and exotic timber and palm oil plantations. For more information, click here.

26 April 2002 BSC has received $500,000 over 2 years from Ontario's Living Legacy Trust. The funding is to support research to determine whether forestry is emulating natural disturbance patterns across the boreal region.

25 April 2002 -- The results of Manitoba's 2001 Nocturnal Owl Survey are now posted on NatureNorth's web page (click here). The Delta Marsh Bird Observatory, with a one-time grant from Manitoba Hydro, assisted with the preparation of the progress report.

24 April 2002 -- Steve Wilcox, BSC's Administrative and Development Manager, will be attending a three-day United Nations Global Environmental Fund sponsored workshop in Nassau, Bahamas to develop a project for the conservation of globally important Caribbean bird habitats (Important Bird Areas). The specific objectives of the workshop are to 1) generate a collective plan for implementing a Caribbean-wide conservation program, and 2) develop the framework for a Caribbean Medium-sized Project brief for UNEP-GEF (c. US $1 million).

23 April 2002 -- BSC's Project NestWatch Coordinator, Catherine Poussart, began working in her Québec city office today, through an agreement with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

23 avril 2002 -- La coordonatrice du Programme de suivi des oiseaux nicheurs, Catherine Poussart, travaille désormais à partir des bureaux du Service canadien de la faune, à Québec. Ceci résulte d'une nouvelle entente entre ÉOC et le Service canadien de la faune, région du Québec.

22 April 2002 -- J.D. Irving Limited, as part of its celebration of Earth Day, today, published advertisements of its support for BSC's NB and NS nocturnal owl surveys in all daily newspapers in these provinces.

21 April 2002 -- One of the world's oldest living wild birds is marking its golden jubilee by preparing to breed again. The Manx shearwater -- a far-flying gull-like seabird -- was probably born in 1952 and is thought to have clocked up about five million miles in the air. First ringed by ornithologists in 1957, the bird's journeys were made while migrating between Britain and South America. It was re-discovered on 4 April this year in a colony of several thousand others on Bardsey, an island off the Lleyn peninsula in north Wales. For more information, click here.

20 April 2002 -- BSC's Breakwater field station on Long Point opened today. Volunteers and staff will monitor the numbers of migrants passing through this site during spring migration. For current updates, click here.

19 April 2002 -- A commissioned piece of outdoor art by artist John Stonkus was installed on BSC's headquarters property today. The installation commemorates the bequest of the late Catherine Smale, of Simcoe ON to the Norfolk Field Naturalists. This bequest, when matched with a gift from the Ontario Heritage Foundation, allowed BSC to purchase its headquarters property in Port Rowan, ON in 1994.

18 April 2002 -- BSC staff member Ian Richards has produced audio tapes to be used in surveys of King Rails, a nationally endangered wetland bird species, throughout southern ON this summer.

17 April 2002 -- BSC staff member Kathy Jones provided training in applying the Marsh Monitoring Program sampling protocol to Mohawk First Nations, NY last weekend. Another workshop for the Walpole Island First Nation, ON is planned for early May.

16 April 2002 -- BSC staff member Dick Cannings attended the Parksville Brant Festival on Vancouver Island and spoke about Bird Studies Canada and the Baillie Birdathon.

15 April 2002 -- BSC thanks the British Columbia Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, which announced a $11,000 grant in support of the BC Nocturnal Owl Survey today.

15 April 2002 -- Volunteers from BSC's Old Cut Field Station and Visitor Centre helped staff plant about 100 cottonwoods along the borders of the created wetland on BSC's headquarters property. It is hoped that the cottonwoods will provide screening for birders and habitat for birds.

14 April 2002 -- Lisa Takats, BSC's Prairie Canada Program Manager, will be attending the Beaverhill Lake Snow Goose Festival, AB on 21-22 April. Lisa will lead tours and have Bird Studies Canada brochures and Annual Reports available for the general public.

13 April 2002 -- BSC is very pleased to announce that it has received a $460,000 grant over 2 years from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to improve its Citizen Science Communications. The grant will allow BSC to develop an effective strategy to communicate the results of collected data back to volunteer Citizen Scientists; support capacity development of affiliated migration monitoring stations, and provide core operating support.

12 April 2002 -- The Province of Ontario has announced that the St Williams Crown Forest, the largest block of publicly owned forest in southwestern Ontario, will be regulated and protected as a new Signature Site under Ontario's Living Legacy. Premier Mike Harris and Natural Resources Minister John Snobelen noted that this exceptional natural area warrants special protection and promotion. BSC contract staff have just completed a 1000-page assessment of the natural heritage features of the St. Williams Crown Forest for the provincial government and our work on rare species in the forest formed a major part of the case for ongoing public ownership and protection. A great day for Hooded Warblers, Wild Turkeys and people!

9 April 2002 --The Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund has renewed its support for the second year of the project, Making Nova Scotia's Lakes Loon Friendly. As part of the national Loon Friendly Lakes campaign, this project aims to educate Nova Scotians about loons and their lakes, and the threats they are facing (including shoreline development, lead sinkers and lead shot, and increased boating traffic). Four Loon Ambassadors from Nova Scotia have been selected to speak to schools, cottagers' associations, and local government about these issues. BSC thanks the Habitat Conservation Fund for their continued support of this project.

8 April 2002 -- Shannon Badzinski, Ph.D. candidate with BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund has published a paper on Canada Geese and Lesser Snow Geese in the Canadian Journal of Zoology. The paper explores how well egg size predicts body composition of newly hatched goslings and relates findings to ecological conditions normally experienced by the two goose species. The paper is titled: Egg size as a predictor of nutrient composition of eggs and neonates of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens). To download a full copy of this paper, click here.

7 April 2002 -- BSC's Old Cut Field Station and Visitor Centre at Long Point, ON opened on 1 April and the Tip station is now also open. BSC welcomes British trust for Ornithology volunteer Matt Hindle back as our Tip Warden this spring. There have been several several improvements in Long Point Bird Observatory operations this year. Daily log sheets are being field tested as scannable forms, which will greatly improve data management. The Old Cut J-trap destroyed by a recent windstorm has been repaired and the Old Cut banding lab has been completely repainted. To get regular updates of migration, click here.

6 April 2002 -- Construction and site work continues at a hectic pace in preparation for the grand opening of BSC's new Headquarters and National Research Centre, scheduled for 1 June 2002 in Port Rowan, ON. 100 cottonwood trees have recently been planted, a new BSC sign is under development, Purple Martin houses are being installed (and occupied as soon as they are!), a new 80 X 27 foo t storage barn is nearing completion. For a construction update, click here, and for information on the conference being held in conjunction with the opening, click here.

5 April 2002 -- Bird Studies Canada seeks a full-time Landbird Programs Coordinator to be responsible for the organization and delivery of landbird programs at Long Point Bird Observatory, with particular emphasis on the Migration Monitoring Program (spring and fall), but also including a long-term breeding bird census project (territory spot-mapping), Tree Swallow breeding biology project, Hooded Warbler research, local marsh bird monitoring, and local breeding bird atlassing. Located on the north shore of Lake Erie, Ontario, Long Point is a premiere birding area. LPBO’s three field stations are crewed largely by trained volunteers who come from all over the world. For more information, contact Jon McCracken.

31 March 2002 -- BSC has confirmed this year's staffing for Thunder Cape Bird Observatory. John Woodcock will cover 20 April to 15 August (with assistance from Bruce Rodrigues), and be followed by Jody Allair, BSC's current Landbird Programs Coordinator, to 15 December.

30 March 2002 -- BSC welcomes Dr. Chris Guglielmo and his research team to Long Point Bird Observatory. Chris works at the University of Montana, and will conduct physiological assessment of stopover habitat quality in migrating songbirds at Long Point. The research team will be comparing mass gain rates measured by plasma metabolites with mass gain rates based on capture data at high and low quality refueling sites. Blood samples will be taken from some of our more abundant spring migrants (e.g., White-throated Sparrows, Gray Catbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, etc.). If you are interested in meeting the research team, they will be at the Old Cut Field Station and Visitor Centre from 5 April until the end of May.

29 March 2002 -- BSC has recently received news of two amazing recoveries of Swainson's Thrushes banded at our Long Point Bird Observatory field stations. The recovery location of both birds was smack dab in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest. Apparently two researchers got word that some locals were hunting birds for food, and that they had found strange metal rings on the legs. The first recovery was from a band applied by Adrianne Tossas from Puerto Rico, a participant in BSC's 2000 Latin American training program. The second recovery was from a bird banded in fall 2001 by Jerome Fischer from Switzerland. Ironically, Jerome is working in Peru right now.

28 March 2002 -- The Atlantic region office of BSC is pleased to report that the Bicknell's Thrush monitoring program will be launched this June, with funding from the Endangered Species Recovery Fund of World Wildlife Fund Canada, the Habitat Stewardship Fund and Science Horizons project of Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Canadian Forest Service, and Stora-Enso Port Hawkesbury Ltd., and in-kind support from the NB Department of Natural Resources, Parks Canada and the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission. Melanie Ball has been hired as the Bicknell's Thrush Project Biologist; she will begin work in Sackville, NB on 2 April.

27 March 2002 -- BSC's Canadian Christmas Bird Count Coordinator, Dick Cannings, reports 2001-02 data from 307 Canadian Christmas Bird Counts are now online, up 11 from last year.

26 March 2002 -- BSC and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists have formed a partnership to provide a new student research grant. The Fred Cooke Student Award was established to honour the life-long contributions of Dr. Fred Cooke, a member of BSC's Board and the President-elect of the American Ornithologists Union. The $1,000 grant, which will be awarded annually beginning in 2003, will support travel to conferences and other research expenses. Interested applicants should contact the Society of Canadian Ornithologists for application forms.

25 March 2002 -- Recent updates to BSC's web site include new staff profiles (click here) and updating information on two stations in the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network : Innis Point, ON and Beaverhill, AB. BSC's web site is now receiving over 2000 visitors each day.

23 March 2002 -- BSC (Atlantic) hosted a workshop for Nova Scotia Loon Ambassadors Sara Jane and Elizabeth Snook, Steve Hawboldt, Judy Beaton and Etta Parker on Saturday 23 March at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Ambassadors were given educational materials to help them to promote the loon survey and the Loon Friendly Lakes campaign in their region, including brochures, a slide presentation, and posters. Etta Parker attended the Nova Scotia RV Show on 14-16 March and reported a positive response to the loon display. Ambassadors are being encouraged to give one or two slide presentations each spring and to promote "Loon Friendly" practices at marinas and cottagers' associations. Thanks to the Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund for its support of this project.

20-23 March 2002 -- BSC was well represented at the third international Partners In Flight conference held in Asilomar, CA. Michael Bradstreet (and Marc Johnson) presented "Using science and community conservation to protect birds: the Canadian Important Bird Areas experience." Peter Blancher (and Ken Rosenburg) presented "Setting population objectives for landbirds."   Denis Lepage presented "Using the Internet for collecting bird atlas and nest record card data in Canada." Charles Francis (formerly BSC's Senior Scientist gave two presentations: "How can breeding bird atlases contribute to long-term monitoring programs;" and "Development of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network: benefits and challenges." The PIF conference was attended by nearly 800 bird conservationists from about 10 countries.

18 March 2002 -- Executive Director, Michael Bradstreet, attended the National Audubon Society's 2nd National (U.S.) IBA workshop in Big Sur, CA, today. On behalf of BSC and the Canadian Nature Federation, Michael summarized progress in Canada's IBA program.

17 March 2002 -- The Atlantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey is expanding into mainland Nova Scotia this spring! Starting April 5 and continuing to 5 May, volunteers from mainland Nova Scotia will join hundreds of volunteers from NB, PEI, and Cape Breton Island, NS, in surveying nocturnal owls using playback along randomnly chosen roadside routes. For more information, click here. To volunteer, contact BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Manager, Becky Whittam by clicking here.

16 March 2002 -- BSC welcomes Laura Talbot-Allan to the Board of Directors. For a short bio and photo of Laura, click here, and scroll down to "T.". Laura is replacing Mike Cadman, who has resigned from the Board but continues as an active member of BSC's National Council and its Ontario Programs Subcommittee

15 March 2002 -- Shannon Badzinski, Ph.D. candidate with Bird Studies Canada's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund has published a paper in the January 2002 issue of Auk 119: 221-227 entitled "Growth and development of prefledging Canada Geese and Lesser Snow Geese: Ecological adaptation or physiological constraint?" The paper evaluates the differences in growth rates and developmental patterns between Canada Geese and Lesser Snow Geese and suggests reasons for these differences.

14 March 2002 -- BSC welcomes Don Graham to our staff as Aquatic Surveys Assistant. For a short bio and photo of Don, click here, and scroll down the page.

13 March 2002 -- Results of waterfowl surveys conducted by BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund are posted regularly on our website. On 13 March, nearly 75,000 waterfowl of 23 species were counted. For full results, click here.

12 March 2002 -- BirdLife International today welcomed the Ecuadorian Minister of Environment´s decision to temporarily suspend an environmental licence to build the controversial Trans-Ecuadorian crude oil pipeline which is set to cut through the forests of Mindo, the first designated Important Bird Area in South America. For a full copy of the press release, click here.

11 March 2002 -- BSC's Prairie Canada Program Manager, Lisa Takats, attended the 2002 Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society conference in Edmonton on 8-9 March, where she presented a poster on the the Alberta Nocturnal Owl Survey and and overview of BSC programs.

10 March 2002 -- BSC is pleased to welcome Jeanne Roy as our new BC Program Manager. Jeanne joins BSC after many years working with Golder Associates Ltd. and other environment consulting groups. Jeanne received her B.Sc. from Simon Fraser University and has many years of bird population and habitat project experience. Jeanne will begin work on 11 March out of the Pacific Wildlife Research Centre in Delta BC. For a short biography and picture of Jeanne, click here and scroll down to Roy.

9 March 2002 -- BSC has lined up a super new T-shirt and great prizes for the 2002 Baillie Birdathon. To check out the details, click here. Birdathon is Canada's largest fund-raiser for bird conservation and more than 100 organizations share the proceeds.

7 March 2002 -- BSC has received $17,000 from Environment Canada's Habitat Stewardship Fund to develop a habitat conservation strategy for the Bicknell's Thrush in Atlantic Canada.

4-6 March 2002 -- Executive Director, Michael Bradstreet, represented BSC at national meetings of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council and North American Bird Conservation in Ottawa. On 5 March progress reports on the status of conservation planning for landbirds, shorebirds, waterbirds and waterfowl were presented.

5 March 2002 -- Earthscan, based in London, U.K., has published "The Atlas of Endangered Species: Threatened Plants and Animals of the World," by Richard Mackay. Based on information provided by WWF and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, this Atlas provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use reference to the species under threat and their habitats, explaining the nature and extent of the threats and why it is so important to address them. The Atlas includes 50 full-colour global maps; regional maps to illuminate key aspects; colour photos of rare creatures; and detailed case studies. See more about the book by clicking here.

4 March 2002 -- Survey kits for the Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey were mailed today. Almost all routes available for 2002 have been assigned, scannable data forms have been created, and this year, volunteers have a choice of whether to use CDs or tapes for playback.

3 March 2002 -- BSC's Board of Directors met in Port Rowan ON on 2-3 March. The Board confirmed BSC's commitment to international bird conservation, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, and confirmed its intention of continuing as a BirdLife International partner in Canada. The Board approved an annual operating plan $2.4 million operating budget for 2002-03, and capital expenditures of $1 million to complete the new headquarters and national research centre. On Saturday evening, the Board, staff and key supporters gathered for dinner, at which a gift of appreciation was presented to Charles Francis, BSC's Senior Scientist -- Programs, who has left BSC to take up a new position with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

3 March 2002 -- BSC is pleased to welcome Lisa Takats as our new Prairie Canada Program Manager.   Lisa did her M.Sc work on the ecology of Barred Owls in the foothills of Alberta with Dr. Geoff Holroyd and Dr. Jim Beck. Lisa has continued monitoring and survey work during employment with the Alberta Conservation Association and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. Lisa begins work on 4 March. For a short biography and picture of Lisa, click here and scroll down to Takats.

1 March 2002 -- 7 Kakapo chicks, a species of flightless night parrot, have hatched on Whenua Hou, a small island off the South Island of New Zealand, bringing the world population of this critically endangered species to 69 individual birds. To view a BirdLife International news release on this success, click here.

28 February 2002 -- BSC's Aquatic Surveys Scientist, Steve Timmermans, will attend a Wetlands Biomonitoring Workshop at Kellog Biological Station at Gull Lake near Kalamazoo, Michigan from 4-6 March. The workshop will work to develop biological indices for evaluating wetland health and biological integrity.

27 February 2002 -- BSC has submitted a final report on its 2001 Ontario Loggerhead Shrike banding project. Jolly and Schnabel formulas applied to the mark/recapture data estimated populations ranging from 130 - 210 pairs in Ontario. This contrasts markedly with the known population of 29 pairs. To download a copy of the shrike report, click here. the eastern population of Loggerhead Shrikes is listed as an endangered species in Ontario and Canada.

25 February 2002 -- BSC has been awarded an Environment Canada Science Horizons position for the Marsh Monitoring Program.   MMP kits and scannable forms will be mailed out next week.

25 February 2002 -- BSC staff member, Kathy Jones, will give several Marsh Monitoring Program Training Workshops this spring, around the Great Lakes basin. Current participants and potential volunteers will learn more about applying the MMP protocol. Scheduled Workshop dates are:

27 February - Buffalo, NY

3 March - Severn Sound, ON

9 March - Quinte Conservation Area, ON

14 March - North Java, NY

26 March - Durham, ON

For more information on the workshops or if your organization is interested in hosting a workshop please contact Kathy at 1-888-448-2473 or by email by clicking here.

24 February 2002 -- Results are starting to come in already for the 2002 BC Owl Survey. The February start for coastal surveys seems popular, at least with one surveyor who hadn't heard a single owl on her three surveys over two years, but this year got an owl on each survey. Survey results were compared with those of a playback survey done for Weyerhaeuser on the BC coast last year. The playback protocol detects twice as many owls per stop as the no-playback protocol, but takes 4 times as long to complete, so BSC's no-playback protocol is detecting twice as many owls per hour.

16 February 2002 --Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas maps with the new 2001 data are now available online by clicking here. In addition to species maps from the first and current Atlas, there are additional maps showing the number of species (total, confirmed, probable and possible), the number of point counts, and the total number of hours of effort per square.

15 February 2002 -- BSC Executive Director, Michael Bradstreet, attended a meeting of the Trinational Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative in Miami FL today.   Committee members and national coordinators from Canada, US and Mexico reviewed a trinational agreement for bird conservation to be signed by the 3 federal governments and further developed conservation projects that will link on-the-ground activities in all 3 countries based on Mexican conservation priorities.

15 February 2002 -- BSC staff, Jon McCracken and Paul Prior, have just returned from training 7 Jamaicans in field ornithology techniques (principally banding but also point counts). Catherine Levy (president of BirdLife Jamaica), Herlitz Davis (BirdLife Jamaica), Susan Koenig (who runs the research station at Cockpit Country), 2 foresters, and 2 forest rangers participated. The training site (adjacent to the University of West Indies) was very productive. In just 5 days of banding, using just 5 mist nets, 147 birds were handled of 25 species. There was a good variety of migrants (11 species) and residents (14 species). The capture rate (125 birds per 100 net hours) was higher than what BSC experienced at any site in Cuba during a 5-year study. The most common residents captured were Bananaquits, two species of grassquit and mockingbird (also Loggerhead Kingbird, Stollard’s Flycatcher, Red-billed Streamertail, Jamaican Vireo, Mangrove Cuckoo, Ruddy Quail Dove, Orangequit, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Jamaican Oriole). The most common migrants were Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird and redstart (also several Hooded Warblers, Worm-eating Warblers and Swainson’s Warblers).

14 February 2002 -- ESRI, the world leader in GIS software, has awarded a grant to BSC for two new ArcInfo extensions: "ArcPress", and "Geostatistical Analyst." ArcPress is being used to streamline the production of maps for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas and Geostatistical Analyst will be used to calculate relative abundance measures from point count data. Thanks to ESRI for this support of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas.

13 February 2002 -- BSC's website has been updated with new information on BC Owls (click here) and a new Ontario Owl FAQ page (click here).

11 February 2002 -- Results of the 2002 Lower Great Lakes Mid-winter Waterfowl Inventory have just been tabulated. Over 500,000 waterfowl were counted along the Ontario and US portions of the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Niagara River, Lake Erie, Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. To download details, click here.

9 February 2002 -- BSC's BC Program manager attended a workshop to initiate a Partners In Flight Conservation Plan for landbirds for coastal BC on 30-31 January. The workshop was very well attended (50-60 participants).

8 February 2002 -- Ongoing photo updates of the construction of BSC's new headquarters and national research centre are now available online. Either click here, or on the construction update button at the top of BSC's homepage.

8 February 2002 -- BSC's Ontario Programs Manager made a presentation on Forest Management and Stewardship: A Bird's Eye View to the Ontario Forestry Association’s annual general meeting in Toronto, ON, today.

7 February 2002 -- The Board of BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund met last evening and approved an ambitious research program for 2002. Four graduate students (2 Ph.D, 2 MSc.) will undertake studies on migration ecology of Tundra Swans, energetics of Greater and Lesser Scaup, wildlife use of the invasive reed grass, Phragmites, and spring ecology and moult of Black Ducks. In addition, Research Director Dr. Scott Petrie will direct and undertake additional work including waterfowl surveys of the Long Point area, nutrient and diet analyses of exotic Mute Swans, contaminant levels in scaup, and the spread of Phragmites at Long Point.

7 February 2002 -- BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Manager, Becky Whittam, attended a Recovery Team meeting for the endangered Roseate Tern in Halifax, NS today.

6 February 2002 -- BSC published a new edition of the Long Point Bird Observer today. The broadsheet is designed to engage young people in the study of birds and to inform them of the educational and research programs of the Long Point Bird Observatory. The Observer has been included as an insert in the Port Rowan Good News and will be distributed to all elementary schools in the local area. The Observer is supported through BSC's Doug Tarry Natural History Fund.

6 February 2002 -- BSC welcomes Melanie Ball to BSC's Atlantic Canada staff. Melanie will complete a monitoring protocol for the vulnerable Bicknell's Thrush and other high-elevation birds. Melanie has an M.Sc. from Dalhousie University, NS; her thesis was on the vocal behaviour of Bicknell’s Thrush.

5 February 2002 -- BSC welcomes Caroline Girard, a Ph.D student working with Dr. André Desrochers at Laval University who will be working at BSC over the next 3-4 months. Caroline will work with BSC staff on an analysis of data from the first Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas to look at mixed forest assemblages of birds (her Ph.D thesis involves carrying out similar analyses with Québec breeding bird atlas data, as well as related field work). Bienvenue Caroline!

4 February 2002 -- BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Management Team met in Sackville, NB today and approved several regional research and monitoring projects for 2002, including: Atlantic Canada nocturnal owl surveys, Cape Breton Beached Bird Survey, Bicknell's Thrush monitoring, conservation planning for waterbirds, and development of the Maritimes Nest Records Scheme.

4 February 2002 -- BSC's Senior Scientist, Dr. Charles Francis is leaving BSC on 15 February 2002 to take up a new position as Chief, Migratory Birds Division at the National Wildlife Research Centre, Canadian Wildlife Service. Over the years, Charles has made significant and substantial contributions to BSC, that are much appreciated by staff, Board and National Council. Good luck in your future endeavors, Charles!

3 February 2002 -- BSC now has 6 Volunteer Loon Stewards in place in NS. Atlantic Canada staff member Beth Flanigan has created a slide show for distribution to stewards in NS and elsewhere. If you would like to become a loon ambassador, anywhere in Canada, contact Kathy Jones at <aqsurvey@bsc-eoc.org>.

2 February 2002 -- Interested in bird migration and the work of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network? If so, subscribe to BSC's new CMMN list server. New subscribers can join by sending a message (from the E-mail address you want to receive the messages) to: <majordomo@bird.bsc-eoc.org> The message should say: subscribe cmmnlist You will then get a message asking for confirmation, to which you must reply to complete the registration.

1 February 2002 -- BSC welcomes our new Project NestWatch Coordinator, Catherine Poussart. Catherine will be working at BSC headquarters for about 2 months before going back to Québec City where she'll continue working for BSC. Catherine is a bilingual Francophone and will help BSC improve French language services.

31 January 2002 -- A new and improved version of BirdWatch Canada, BSC's now quarterly newsletter, was mailed today. The winter issue features articles on Canada's National Wildlife Areas and monitoring Bicknell's Thrushes in the Cape Breton Highlands. All members receive BirdWatch Canada. To become a member, click here.

30 January 2002 -- BSC's Aquatic Surveys Scientist, Steve Timmermans, made a presentation on the Marsh Monitoring Program during a Binational Monitoring Workshop: Coordinating Monitoring Efforts Throughout the Great Lakes Basin, held in Chicago, IL today. The workshop will result in enhanced coordination of monitoring efforts throughout the Great Lakes.

29 January 2002 -- Project FeederWatch was featured today on the morning television show "Salut Bonjour" on the French station TVA. Dr. Michel Pepin presented the project to about half a million viewers, largely in the Montréal area.

Le Projet FeederWatch a fait parler de lui à la télévision française de TVA, au Québec, dans l'émission du matin Salut Bonjour. Le Dr Pépin a présenté le projet à un auditoire d'environ un demi-million d'auditeurs, principalement de la région de Montréal

28 January 2002 -- Last year's Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas data that were submitted on paper forms have recently been added to the online database and are available to atlassers for review. Atlassers will be able to edit their 2001data until 1 April 2002. Data for the new 2002 breeding season can also be entered and some birds species, such as Great Horned Owl, Gray Jay and crossbills may already be nesting. Data can now be entered online for all 4 data forms: Breeding Evidence, Point Counts, Rare/Colonial Birds and Nest Record Cards.

26 January 2002 -- CBC Television (Halifax) will be airing a segment on Project FeederWatch. CBC's provided a nice link from their website to ours. Click on "more" under the Hairy Woodpecker (which by the way was filmed in BSC's Atlantic Program Manager, Becky Whittam's front yard!) to see PFW info. Becky was interviewed both at work (entering PFW data) and at home (filling the feeders and talking about why she loves bird feeding).

25 January 2002 -- BSC staff member, Jon McCracken, and contractor Paul Prior, are traveling to the Caribbean next week to train 6 Jamaican nationals in bird and habitat monitoring techniques. The training will take place in the Long Mountains Important Bird Area, where several of Jamaica's endemic forest species occur.

24 January 2002 -- BSC's Steve Wilcox has attended a regional BirdLife International partnership meeting in Quito, Ecuador, this week. Partners from across the western hemisphere met to plan actions for some of world's most critically-endangered species. Caroline Schultz, Director of Conservation at the Canadian Nature Federation and a member of BSC's National Council was elected as chair of the Americas Regional Partnership.

23 January 2002 -- Final results from the 2001 Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey are now available online by clicking here. A downloadable copy of the full report is also available. In 2001 there was a large increase in the number of participants and routes; 929 owls of 9 species were detected. Boreal Owls showed a significant increase in northern Ontario.

20 January 2002 -- Recent job postings include Migration Monitoring Program Coordinator at Thunder Cape, ON; Field Assistant at lesser Slave Lake, AB, Breeding Bird Census volunteers at Long Point, ON. Click on Job Opportunities at BSC on BSC's home page.

13 January 2002 -- the Norfolk Field Naturalists club has published a broadsheet "Water -- Every drop has many uses" that has been distributed to 15,000 households in the Long Point, ON region. The broadsheet includes sections on restoration of the wetland on BSC's headquarters property, the Marsh Monitoring Program, and tracking the spread of Phragmites australis, and invasive wetland plant. To read or download the broadsheet, click here.

11 January 2002 -- British Columbia Program Manager, Dick Cannings, attended a Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture meeting in Kamloops, BC today where he gave a presentation on BSC programs.

10 January 2002 -- BirdLife International has launched a new campaign to save the world's albatrosses and other seabirds from inadvertant destruction in longline fisheries. To find out more about the problem, and its solutions, click here.

9 Januray 2002 -- Le site d'entrée de données pour le Projet FeederWatch estmaintenant disponible en français (The Project FeederWatch data entry site is now available in French). Les participants qui ont commencé à utiliser le site en anglais pour la présente saison 2001-2002 peuvent maintenant continuer à entrer leurs données sur le site francophone. Les données déjà entrées continuerons d'être disponibles aussi bien sur le site français que le site anglais. Pour y accéder, cliquez ici.

8 Januray 2002 -- BSC's Becky Whittam and Andrea Kingsley have completed an assessment of the impacts of wind turbines on birds at North Cape, PE, for the Prince Edward Island Energy Corporation. They concluded that impacts are likely to be low if wind turbines are located in areas of poor habitat with low bird densities and an absence of species of high conservation concern. To download a copy of the report, click here.

7 January 2002 -- BSC is looking to hire a British Columbia Program Manager, to develop active volunteer bird research and conservation programs in that province. If you are interested in applying, click on the Job Opportunities section on our main page.

6 January 2002 -- Disturbing news from the global conservation front:

Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) have almost disappeared from many cities and farmlands from Sichuan, China, and are becoming rare elsewhere, apparently because of the widespread (mis)use of agricultural pesticides.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds found that introduced hedehogs directly caused more than 50% of shorebird nesting failures in the Outer Hebrides, U.K. Erecting exclusion fences around two nesting areas allowed breeding success to return to normal.

In Iceland, the Thick-billed Murre has undergone a massive decline, and it is now red-listed. The Icelandic government states that the only plausible explanation is because of hunting pressure in West Greenland, where the Icelandic birds spend part of the year. Many Canadian Thick-billed Murres also winter in West Greenland waters.

In the U.S., scientists have determined that most seabird populations hit by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska have still to show signs of recovery, more than a decade after the disaster.

In the Mediterranean, aerial surveys of the islands of Malta and Gozo revealed a minimum of 5,717 sites from which birds are shot during migration, an average of 17 per square kilometre.

5 January 2002 -- BSC is very pleased to announce that our new headquarters has received an Award of Merit in Canada's annual juried design competition, sponsored by Canadian Architect. The three judges chose 7 of nearly 100 submissions for awards. Congratulations to Montgomery Sisam Associates Inc. Architects. All three judges commented favorably on the headquarter's modest simplicity and the architects' success in creating a well-proportioned farm-like cluster of built form around an informal entry plaza, opening itself on the other side to a marsh and long view out to the UNESCO heritage site of the Long Point marsh beyond. To download the full citation, scroll down the contents page to BSC after clicking here.

3 January 2002 -- BSC's BC Coastal Waterbird Program Coordinator, Stephanie Hazlitt, is moving on. Stephanie has been awarded a University of Queensland International Postgraduate Research Scholarship - a 3-year fellowship including stipend and tuition. Stephanie will be investigating the reproductive strategies and conservation genetics of a threatened rock-wallaby species in the state of Queensland, Australia. Good luck Down Under, Stephanie!

1 January 2002 - The World Conservation Union's most recent Red List of globally threatened species (2000) shows that the status of most endangered birds has has not worsened appreciably since 1996. However, all 16 species of the world's albatrosses are now listed as Threatened, whereas in 1996 there were only 3. This is due to the impact of longline fisheries. The number of red-listed penguins has doubled from 5 to 10. Other bird groups where there have been marked increases in numbers of threatened species include the doves, parrots and passerines, especially among those species occurring in Southeast Asia. This is a direct result of the enormous deforestation that has taken place in places like the Philippines. To access the full list, click here.

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