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Canada

Regular Project Grants

Monitoring Neotropical Migrant And Resident Birds In The Venezuelan Andes; La Mucuy Bird Observatory, Sierra Nevada National Park, Venezuela
Point Lepreau Bird Observatory 2001 Seabird Migration; Saint John Naturalist’ Club, NB
Does allofeeding occur in the nestling period of Gray Jays on Anticosti Island in the absence of Red Squirrels?; Dan Strickland, QC
Least Bittern and Black Tern Monitoring; Friends of Wye Marsh, ON
Atlantic Canada Owl Monitoring Workshop; Bird Studies Canada – Atlantic Region, NB
Census and sounds 2001: A Seabird Population Monitoring and Audio Project for Four IBA sites in Newfoundland (Wadham Islands, Witless Bay Islands, Middle Lawn Island and Green Island); The Alder Institute, NF
Red-necked Grebe Shoreline Survey; Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, ON
2001 International Piping Plover Census on Prince Edward Island; Island Nature Trust, PEI
Correlation of Plumage, Weight and Wing Cord with Gender in Snowy Owls; Martin Stoffel, SK
Survey of Cholinesterase Levels in Injured Birds of Prey, Wild and Exotic Animal Medicine Society, SK
The Nova Scotia Piping Plover Guardian Program; The Nova Scotia Bird Society, NS
Osprey Nest Monitoring in the West Kootenays, BC
Ranger Creek MAPS Station, Bow Valley Naturalists, BC
Black Tern and Least Bittern Monitoring, Tiny Marsh and Matchedash Bay, ON

Migration Monitoring Project Grants

Cabot Head Research Station; Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, ON
Observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac; Explos-Nature, QC
Mount Lorette Migration Monitoring Station, Peter Sherrington, AB
Mackenzie (Mugaha Marsh) Migration Monitoring Station; Mackenzie Nature Observatory, BC
Ruthven Park, Rock Point Provincial Park and Selkirk Provincial Park Migration Monitoring Stations; Haldimand Bird Observatory, ON
Atlantic Bird Observatory Seal Island and Bon Portage Island stations; Atlantic Bird Observatory, NS
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory; Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, ON
Vaseaux Lake Bird Observatory; Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance, BC
St. Andrews Banding Station; Tracey Dean, NB
Last Mountain Bird Observatory; Nature Saskatchewan, SK
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary; Calgary Bird Banding Society, AB

James L. Baillie Student Research Award

Why do females engage in extra-pair mating? Testing the role of the major histocompatibility complex. Mary K. Stapleton, Queen’s University.

This study will investigate the role of the major histocompatibility (MHC) complex in the mating system of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Specifically, the genetic incompatibility hypothesis will be examined with respect to female choice of social and extra-pair mates. The genetic incompatibility hypothesis has been suggested as a possible explanation for why female tree swallows mate with multiple mates (Kempenaers et al 1999). Females may be choosing mates whose genotype when matched with hers will increase offspring fitness. The MHC genotype of a female tree swallow will be compared to that of her social mate, as well as her extra-pair mate. If females are choosing mates based on genotypic differences at the MHC, Stapleton predicts that the MHC genotype of the female will differ significantly more from the extra-pair mate than the social mate. This study will contribute significantly to understanding avian mating systems as well as providing information of the structure and function of the MHC in songbirds.

Regular Grants

Monitoring Neotropical Migrant and Resident Birds in The Venezuelan Andes; La Mucuy Bird Observatory, Sierra Nevada National Park, Venezuela

Neotropical migrants nesting in Canada and commonly found migrating through or wintering in the Mérida Andes include: Cerulean Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush and Summer Tanager.

Although many of these species are at the southern limits of their wintering ranges, the area may be of particular importance to the conservation of Canadian songbirds due to the "leapfrog effect." This theory suggests birds at the northern limits of their breeding ranges spend the winter at the southern limits of the wintering ranges (Mead, 1983; Alerstam, 1990). If this theory is proven true, a disproportionate number of high latitude songbirds may be wintering in areas such as the Mérida Andes. The issue of the leapfrog effect may only be resolved through banding, or more likely through use of stable isotopes, a technique that has been successfully used to link breeding and wintering grounds of migratory songbirds in different parts of Central America (Hobson, 1997). High latitude birds are poorly monitored at present because their summering grounds lie beyond the coverage of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and because their wintering grounds lie south of the main focus of monitoring in Central America.

La Mucuy Bird Observatory staff will train local personnel to conduct monitoring of Neotropical migrant and resident birds. As well, the Observatory staff and volunteers will undertake to educate the park staff, visitors and local people as to the international importance of the National Park, and the Venezuelan Andes in general, for migratory and resident birds. Throughout the Neotropics, rapid assessment research continues to be greatly needed to help determine which tropical ecosystems most require preservation.

Osprey Nest Monitoring in the West Kootenay; Nelson Naturalists, Nelson, British Columbia

The objective of this project is to study and survey Osprey nests in British Columbia, between Balfour and Waneta from the junction of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake, down the Kootenay river to the confluence with the Columbia River in Castlegar and down the Columbia River to Trail and south to Waneta (at the United States border).

The entire route will be surveyed a minimum of four times during the nesting and breeding season. Beginning in April, volunteers will look for Canada Geese occupying Osprey nests. Osprey nests will be monitored for young and fledging of young. Nest structure type (natural or man made) will be noted. By late April and early May volunteers will watch for presence or absence of adult Ospreys at known nest sites and search for new nests. In late May and early June, nests will be monitored for evidence of incubation (an adult Osprey sitting low in the nest is assumed to be incubating eggs). From mid June to mid July, volunteers will use spotting scopes to determine the presence of young in the nests. In August, young will be highly visible and preparing to fledge.

Point Lepreau Bird Observatory; Saint John Naturalists’, New Brunswick

The Point Lepreau Bird Observatory (PLBO) was established in 1995 to study the spectacular migration of seabirds through the Bay of Fundy each spring and fall. The Observatory has established three long-term objectives that form the core of the program.

1. To establish and maintain a database which will permit evaluation of trends in seabird migration,

2. To encourage other naturalist organizations to establish similar projects at suitable sites in the region;

3. To educate industrial and other interested parties about the hazard posed to seabirds by oil and other pollution, particularly during peak migration periods.

The Bay of Fundy acts as a gigantic funnel for seabirds moving north in spring. Point Lepreau is the most prominent headland on the mainland coast of the Bay. It is quite possible that most of the thousands of seabirds that spend the winter south of the Maritimes fly within sight of Point Lepreau as they follow the Atlantic coast north. Prior to the establishment of the PLBO, no organized counting had been done, and very little was known about the eastern populations or movements of several seaduck species.

In addition to counting all seabirds by species and numbers, observers will also record weather conditions, tide cycles, wind velocity and direction, visibility details and temperature variation during all four-hour counts. All this information will be combined in a database, the first of its kind for the Bay of Fundy region and possibly for the eastern seaboard.

Atlantic Canada Owl Monitoring Workshop; Bird Studies Canada - Atlantic Region

In the Fall of 2001, Bird Studies Canada - Atlantic Region will host an Atlantic Canada owl monitoring workshop in Sackville, New Brunswick. The workshop will bring together people interesting in monitoring and conserving owls in Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey was launched in New Brunswick this spring and will expand to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland in the coming year. Input from amateur naturalists (who will collect the bulk of the data as volunteers), local biologists and owl survey experts is required to direct the development, promotion and implementation of the owl survey throughout the Atlantic region. By bringing these people together in a workshop setting after the first year of data have been collected in New Brunswick, BSC hopes to generate interest from potential volunteers as well as possible funding for the long-term survey.

The objectives of the owl survey are:

1. To determine population trends of owls in Atlantic Canada;

2. To gather location information on rare or little-known owl species in Atlantic Canada; and

3. To involve volunteer birders from across Atlantic Canada in active wildlife monitoring.

2001 International Piping Plover Census on Prince Edward Island; Island Nature Trust

This project aims to complete the Prince Edward Island component of the 2001 International Piping Plover Census. The objective of this International Census is to assess the current status and distribution of the species and in conjunction with the two previous international censuses in 1991 and 1996 provide a measure of the success of recent recovery efforts for this endangered species. Census results also identify areas in need of additional conservation measures. The regular census is an essential tool in monitoring populations of this endangered species, assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures, and identifying areas where conservation measures must be increased or modified. Without good data on numbers and locations of breeding and wintering birds, recovery of this species could not be assessed.

In late May, volunteers will be assigned plover beaches to census and they will be trained in appropriate plover identification, census techniques and data collection/record keeping. Both breeding pairs and unpaired adults are counted, and volunteers are discouraged from searching for nest or young in order to minimize disturbance to the birds. The census is to take place during the first week of June, weather permitting: it will not be conducted during extreme weather to minimize stress on the birds.

After the census is complete, Trust staff will compile the results, map the areas censussed, and determine how results differ from the 1991 and 1996 censuses. All data will be forwarded to the Chair of the Atlantic Canada Piping Plover Recovery Team for inclusion in both a regional and an international report.

Does allofeeding occur in the nestling period of Gray Jays on Anticosti Island in the Absence of Red Squirrels?; Dan Strickland, Ontario

Strickland is conducting a detailed study of the nesting behaviour of the Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) on Anticosti, a large, forested island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence where there are no Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

In family groups of the Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis , nonbreeders are normally driven away by the breeders at the beginning of the late winter nesting season and they do not provision incubating females or nestlings, although they may return to feed fledglings. It is generally accepted that their exclusion from the area of active nests prevents nonbreeders from making nutritionally unnecessary, predator-attracting trips to the nest. Nonbreeders may be allowed to provision fledglings because the predators are flightless and therefore less dangerous to fledglings. Of predators that might drive Gray Jay behaviour in this manner, tree squirrels (Tamiasciurus spp.) are the most likely candidates because of their abundance throughout the boreal and subalpine biomes they share with Gray Jays and because they are known to be serious nest predators. Strickland’s hypothesis supposes that, in the absence of this important nest predator, and unlike the breeders in mainland populations, Gray Jay pairs on Anticosti may provision their nestlings at relatively rapid rates and they may allow nonbreeders to participate in such feeding.

The study could make an important contribution to the understanding of allofeeding (helping) behaviour. If nonbreeding Gray Jays on Anticosti Island are observed to provision incubating females or nestlings, it will provide strong inferential support for the hypothesis that the predation risk posed by squirrels drives the initial parental suppression of allofeeding in other Gray Jay populations. It would also provide support for the extension of this hypothesis, that protection from effective nest predators is a necessary condition for allofeeding to occur.

In a month-long visit in the fall of 2001, 20 territorial pairs of Gray Jays and they’re associated non breeders will be attracted to suet-baited feeders attached to road - or trail side trees and then captured in a single-cell Potter trap. Jays will be weighed, measured, colour-banded with a unique combination of coloured and standard bands, a blood sample will be taken and then they will be released. The blood samples will be used for later DNA fingerprinting to establish relationships, if any, between breeders and nonbreeders in each family group.

In a second visit in the spring of 2002, Strickland will search for the nests of the banded population, hoping to find 20 such nests and will choose several for intensive observation. Rates of feeding in the incubation, nestling, and fledgling periods will be quantified in daily nest watches of at least five hours, weather permitting, and the contributions of non breeders, if any, and will be recorded and documented on film.

The Nova Scotia Piping Plover Guardian Program; The Nova Scotia Bird Society, NS

The primary objective of the Nova Scotia Piping Plover Guardian Program is to push the Piping Plover numbers up and off the Endangered Species List. In the 1985 the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada designated the Piping Plover endangered when numbers in Canada reached between 1448 and 2047 birds. Today estimated totals in Canada are 2209. Recovery goals for Canadian populations are 2670 over the next 15 years. In Atlantic Canada the goal is 670 individuals. Nova Scotia once held the largest portion of Piping Plovers in eastern Canada, however, in the last 20 years their numbers have decreased, and the province now contains less than 20% of the eastern Canada population.

The 2001 Guardian program will continue to use the approach which has been used in the past where local volunteers will monitor plover nesting and fledgling areas, place signs at nesting areas, erect fences or other enclosures to protect high risk plovers from threatening activities if necessary, ask people not to use these areas for recreational activities or as a place to exercise their pets, and report back to the Coordinator who will report to the Nova Scotia Bird Society. Volunteers will also clean beach areas so that natural piping plover predators are not attracted to the area by garbage. The Guardian program will work to raise awareness about the Piping Plover to school children, community groups, and recreational users of the beach areas where Piping Plovers are nesting, feeding and fledging, and to landowners about stewardship opportunities. Local volunteers will be trained to take action to protect the Piping Plover by erecting signs instructing people where they should not undertake activities, handing out pamphlets to beach users, approaching those who disregard signs, and monitoring Piping Plover behaviour and activities.

Ranger Creek MAPS Station; Bow Valley Naturalists, Alberta

The overall goal of this project is to continue the operation of the Ranger Creek MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) station in Banff National Park. The MAPS Program consists of standardized constant-effort mist netting during the breeding season. For the Ranger Creek site the season extends from period five, June 10-19, to period 10, July 30-August eight. Ten mist nets are operated for six hours, starting at sunrise, on one day during each of the 10 day periods, for a total of six days. Each bird captured is marked with a uniquely-numbered internationally-recognized aluminum leg band. Band number, capture status, species, age and sex, ageing and sexing criterial, date, time, station, and net number are recorded for all birds captured, including recaptures.

This project will provide long-term information on the status of migratory songbirds in the montane zone of the park through standardized constant-effort mist netting. This research will also contribute to a continent-wide program to monitor migratory landbirds.

The Bow Valley Naturalists will use the Baillie Fund grant to continue training local volunteers to band under the supervision of master banders, with the goal being self-sufficiency in banding expertise for the station.

Census and Sounds 2001: A Seabird Population Monitoring and Audio Project for Four IBA sites in Newfoundland (Wadham, Witless Bay Islands, Middle Lawn Island and Green Island); The Alder Institute, Newfoundland

Census and Sounds 2001 will be the first field season of a long-term seabird population monitoring, avian vocalization recording and conservation biology audio documentary making project. The Alder Institute and the Canadian Wildlife Service have formed a partnership to census seabird colonies in Newfoundland and Labrador and raise public awareness of seabird conservation concerns.

There is very little known abut the numbers of Leach’s storm petrels breeding at colonies in Newfoundland and Labrador. Petrels are susceptible to mortality from offshore oil development due to their distribution at sea and their behavior. Storm-petrels are attracted to lighted structures during foggy conditions. Offshore oil installations on the Grand Banks fit this description much of the time, making them a potential attractant for storm petrels. Colliding with or landing on oily decks and /or flying into flares may be a significant preventable source of mortality for adult storm petrels. At this time there is no independent monitoring of seabird mortality due to offshore oil activity.

Alder and CWS will join forces to establish the survey methodology and census auks and petrels on the Waldheim Islands in early July and petrels on Gull Island in late July or early August. Alders will survey petrels on Middle Lawn and Green Island. September to November will be spent editing tape and producing audio documentary and public service announcement material which profiles the colonies visited, storm-petrel, manx shearwater and puffin breeding and population ecology, the importance of population monitoring for seabird conservation and the vulnerability of seabirds to marine oil pollution. Recordings will be made available to the research community and to a broader audience on the internet in real audio. As well, Alder will use on-site recordings as ingredients in conservation biology audio documentaries which will broadcast on Alder’s community radio program Open Air on CHMR-93.5 FM and be archived in real audio on Alder’s website (alder.nf.ca).

Red-necked Grebe shoreline survey: Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, Ontario

The main study area for this project is the Georgian Bay shoreline within Cabot Head Important Bird Area (IBA), located at the northeastern tip of the Bruce Peninsula. The Cabot Head area has been recognized as an IBA in large part because of the numbers of Red-necked Grebes which stage along the Georgian Bay shoreline during spring migration.

The goal of this project is to learn more about the numbers and distribution of Red-necked Grebe as they stopover at the Cabot Head Important Bird Area on their spring migration.

The specific objectives of the 2001 program are:

- To determine the number and distribution of Red-necked Grebes staging along the Dyers Bay to Cabot Head shoreline and along adjacent coastal areas (Cabot Heat to Tobermory and Dyers Bay to Cape Chin).

Biweekly shoreline surveys and daily sea-watch counts were conducted throughout the spring of 2000. During the 2000 shoreline surveys, up to 400 Red-necked Grebes were observed staging along the Cabot Head - Dyers Bay shoreline. Although the count is lower than historic high counts of up to 800 grebes, it does represent a significant portion of the total North American Red-necked Grebe population and confirms the international significance of the Cabot Head as an Important Bird Area.

As in 2000, highly-experienced birders will conduct biweekly surveys at five stations located along the 10 km, road-accessible section of the Georgian Bay shoreline between the Dyers Bay dock and the Cabot Head light station. A minimum of 12 scheduled surveys will be conducted between 30 March and 6 May. Other volunteers may conduct supplementary surveys, using the same methodology, on days with ideal viewing conditions.

Survey for exposure to anticholinesterase insecticides and anticoagulant rodenticides in wild birds of prey; Wild and Exotic Animal Medicine Society, University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Wildlife Service, Hull Quebec

Raptors act as sentinel species in agricultural habitats because they may be directly exposed to pesticides in the environment, or secondarily exposed through their diet. Cholinesterase depression can be linked to impairment and a higher probability of mishap. At rehabilitation facilities, very few birds are ever tested for poisoning when an obvious cause of injury, such as electrocution or vehicular trauma is diagnosed. Routine screening of cholinesterase levels in raptors at one rehabilitation facility in Virginia illustrated that traumatic injuries frequently occur with sub-lethal exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides, such as carbamates and organophosphates. Raptors also appear to be more sensitive to these pesticides than other bird species. Also, reports are increasing about the widespread long-term contamination of birds of prey with second generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Individuals involved with raptor rehabilitation can play an important role in documenting the occurrence of pesticide exposure and/or intoxication by routinely screening patients on admission.

Approximately 100 injured raptors from all over Saskatchewan are admitted to the Wild Bird Ward at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine each year. The Western College of Veterinary Medicine is situated in a highly agricultural area, so the possibility for intoxication of birds of prey with pesticides is very real. Rodent control (ground squirrels) is also very prevalent in the prairies.

The long-term objective of this project is to determine whether impairment from sub-lethal exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides may contribute to accidents causing injury in birds of prey. In 2001, the objective is to take serial blood samples for cholinesterase assessment in injured birds of prey admitted to rehabilitation facilities. Brain samples will be taken from deceased birds. Liver samples will b e collected for anticoagulant analysis. Based on prior experience, Red-tailed hawks and Great Horned owls will be the main monitor species. Other species will be added depending on the region.

Least Bittern and Black Tern Monitoring; Friends of Wye Marsh Inc., Ontario

The objectives of this project are to:

- Assess and monitor Least Bittern populations and determine size and suitability of habitat in the Wye Marsh Important Bird Area (IBA) and Provincial Wildlife Reserve.

- Monitor development of Black Tern population based on initial Year 2000 IBA study results.

In 1998, The Friends of Wye Marsh, Inc. became custodians of the 1200 hectare Wye Marsh Provincial Wildlife Reserve from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Several priorities have emerged in partnership with volunteers and stakeholders for management of this area. Chief among them is a biological inventory of significant areas of the marsh prior to any development. In 2000 Wye Marsh was designated as an Important Bird Area. A draft IBA Conservation Action Plan has been completed and a number of priorities have been established. These include updating a serious lack of information on the vulnerable populations of Trumpeter Swans, Black Terns and Least Bitterns.

Correlation of Plumage, Weight and Wing Chord with Gender in Snowy Owls; Marten Stoffel, Saskatchewan

Mr. Stoffel, is undertaking this project to:

- Correlate plumage, weight and wing chord of wild caught snowy owls with gender as determined by DNA analysis;

- Determine reliable morphometric parameters for sexing snowy owls;

- Band wild caught snowy owls for future information gathering.

The commonly held belief is that pure white snowy owls are mature males, and barred owls are either females or immature males. In a conversation with Dr. Colette Wheler, an avian veterinarian at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Mr Stoffel learned that Dr. Wheler had recently examined a pure white snowy owl that had been hit by a truck and subsequently died. Dr. Wheler conducted a post mortem and was surprised to discover that the owl was a female in spite of the fact that it weighed more than 2 kg and had pure white plumage. Mr. Stoffel has banded birds for 25 years and is licenced to band snowy owls. Mr. Stoffel intends to combine his banding efforts with morphometric measurements to try and find a correlation between plumage, weight, wing chord and sex.

Mr. Stoffel has been collecting data since October 2000, when snowy owls began moving through the Saskatoon area. He hopes to collect data for the next 3 - 5 years. The study area is a 30 - 40 mile radius from Saskatoon. Owls are caught in mist nets (using caged mice, pigeons or hamsters as bait) and are banded, weighed and the wing chord is measured. A small blood sample is collected from the wing vein for sex determination by DNA analysis. Blood samples are taken using equipment supplied by Dr. Gary Bortolotti, professor of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. Photographs are taken of the bib, back of head and top of head. Extreme care is taken in handling the owls and they are quickly released back to the wild.

Black Tern and Least Bittern Monitoring, Tiny Marsh and Matchedash Bay, MTM Conservation Association, Ontario

Black Tern and Least Bittern surveys were conducted at Tiny marsh and Matchedash Bay during the year 2000 field season. Both of these birds are species of conservation concern. Black Terns are listed as vulnerable in Ontario and Least Bitterns are listed as nationally vulnerable. The MTM Conservation Association has great interest in developing methods to monitor their abundance and distribution.

In 2001, the MTM Conservation Association will continue the point count monitoring of Black Terns and Least Bitterns at Tiny Marsh and Matchedash Bay. In 2000, each route consisted of 10 observation/listening stations placed approximately 250 metres apart in suitable habitat. At each station tape-recorded calls of Least Bitterns were played for 3 minutes. Call responses were listened for during a 2 minute period. The number of Least Bittern seen or heard was recorded. Three surveys approximately a week apart were conducted on each route between 29 May and 19 June. Point counts were also used to sample Black Terns at Tiny Marsh using the same stations set up to sample Least Bitterns. The number of terns observed within a semicircle of 100 m radius from the station was counted for a period of five minutes. The following information was collected once at each point count station: water depth; average vegetation height; average stern density; and species composition of most abundant plants.

The Black Tern Nest Survey at Tiny Marsh will be repeated in 2001. The marsh will be intensively surveyed in mid June by crews of 2 observers using canoes. Observers will record: the total number of flying adult Black Terns seen within their sampling area; and the number of nests and eggs per nest.

Cabot Head Research Station; Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory

Cabot Head is located at the northeastern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, a location in the Great Lakes Basin which makes it a natural corridor and concentration point for migrating landbirds. The peninsula shoreline is also used as a staging area by many waterbirds. The Bruce Peninsula has been identified as an important gap in the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network’s coverage of Ontario. The site is located in the Cabot Head Provincial Nature Reserve, a highly significant natural area managed by Ontario Parks as a protected area. The study area is about three hectares in size with habitat of scrubby mixed woods, shrub thickets and open mowed lawn. The site is not accessible to the public. This is the second year of operations at this site and the station will operate during spring migration from 15 April to 5 June and in fall migration from 1 August to 31 October.

For the 2001 season, 30 permanent net lanes and 10 trap locations have been established. Observations of all birds seen or heard during or between net checks will be recorded through

The objectives for the 2001 season are as follows:

- to generate daily counts of migrants during the spring and fall migration periods that can be used to monitor changes in the populations of certain priority species migrating through the area;

- to learn more about the composition, magnitude, timing and demographics of landbird migration on the Bruce Peninsula and Great Lakes Basin; and

- to foster the public’s understanding and appreciation of birds and bird migration and other aspects of the natural history of the Cabot Head Important Bird Area.

In 2000, 35 volunteers contributed some 250 person-days to the migration monitoring project. Volunteer participation is expected to increase in 2001

Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory; Prince Edward Point, ON

Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory has monitored bird migration in the vicinity of the area known as the Cedar Woods, within the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, during each spring since 1995. In each year the Observatory has been open within the period from the second week of April to early June. In 2000 the Observatory opened on 10 April and was in full operation daily to 31 May. In the census area, 156 species of birds were recorded, and 3000 birds of 92 species were banded. Sighting highlights from the 2000 season included: Short-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing (total of 57 banded), Yellow-throated Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula and Prairie Warbler. In spite of the cold weather during the month of April, the Observatory had its second most successful spring to date in 2000. The top ten species banded in Spring 2000 were: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (371), Blue Jay (252), Golden-crowned Kinglet (209), White-throated Sparrow (209), Myrtle Warbler (206), Slate-coloured Junco (197), Magnolia Warbler (165), Hermit Thrush (114), Brown Creeper (85) and Brown-headed Cowbird (80).

Volunteer support (particularly from Prince Edward County) remained strong. The Observatory was also staffed by people from Queen’s University, England and Denmark. Fifty people participated in the monitoring program, for a total of 309 person days.

In 2001 the Observatory plans to expand operations and also operate during fall migration (15 August - 30 October).

L’Observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac; Explos-Nature, Québec

L’Observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac est situé à 4 km au nord-est de Tadoussac, à l’intérieur du Parc du Saguenay, sur la rive nord du fleuve Saint-Laurent. Il s’agit de la seule station de suivi des migrations au Québec et, de par sa position, celle qui se situe le plus au nord dans l’est de l’Amérique du Nord. Cet observatoire est géré par Explos-Nature, un organisme a but non lucratif qui s’est donné comme mission d’encourager le public en général à mieux comprendre et à mieux apprécier l’environnement qui les entoure par le biais de l’observation des oiseaux et par une expérience pratique, soit l’identification, le maniement et le baguage des oiseaux. L’objectif premier de l’observatoire est d’acquérir des données sur les espèces migratrices et résidentes et, plus particulièrement, sur les espèces boréales.

Le suivi des migrations, qui s’est effectué entre le 14 août et le 25 novembre 2000, a permis de répertorié 184 espèces, parmi lesquelles figurent quelques espèces peu communes comme la Mouette atricille (1), la Mouette rieuse (1), le Harfang des neiges (1), le Roselin familier (1), le Mergule nain (2), le Grèbe esclavon (2), le Goéland brun (2), le Bec-croisé des sapins (2), la Chouette épervière (3) et la Paruline verdâtre (3). Parmi les espèces qui ont totalisé un nombre impressionnant, on compte le Pic tridactyle (57), la Mouette pygmée (38 mentions, dont une de 10 individus), l’Alouette hausse-col (3174), le Pipit d’Amérique (4053), le Grand Corbeau (1694), le Sizerin flammé (14 744), le Tarin des pins (37 082) et le Bec-croisé bifascié (21 269).

En ce qui concerne le baguage des oiseaux, l’année 2000 ne s’est pas avérée fructueuse du côté des passereaux et des pics avec 2332 oiseaux bagués. Par contre, le baguage des hiboux a permis de rapporter 72 Petites Nyctales et 113 Nyctales de Tengmalm. Le grand nombre de Nyctales de Tengmalm semble démontrer la présence d’un mouvement migratoire massif de cet oiseau à tous les quatre ans.

The Tadoussac Bird Observatory (TBO) is located 4 km to the northeast of the village of Tadoussac, Québec close to the interpretive centre in Saguenay Provincial Park. It is the only migration monitoring station in Québec, and it is the most northerly station in eastern North America.

The TBO’s purpose is to collect data on bird populations, especially of birds that breed in the boreal zone of Canada: TBO keeps track of their numbers, following them over the long term, and evaluating their risk status. In the fall TBO counts raptors. The observatory also offers training in banding and identification of birds, to children, students and adults. This particular project however is focused on monitoring songbird populations.

The primary target species are Alder Flycatcher, American Pipit, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Swainson’s Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, White-winged Crossbill, Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Eighty-four other species are also monitored. Even though many of these species are already well monitored by many CMMN stations, very little info about them comes from the eastern half of the continent, and in this sense, the TBO fills a huge void.

Selkirk Provincial Park, Ruthven Park and Rock Point Provincial Park Migration Monitoring Stations; Haldimand Bird Observatory, Ontario

The Haldimand Bird Observatory is a designated member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network and operates three migration monitoring stations. The three stations are about 25 miles apart. The composition of the species banded at each station is quite different, both in spring and fall. There have been no between station retraps.

Selkirk Provincial Park is located on the north shore of Lake Erie (almost due north of Long Point Bird Observatory's Tip station) and the banding site is located in a white pine plantation approximately 25 years old. This plantation is bordered on the east side by the marshes of Spring Creek and on the west by cultivated fields.

Ruthven Park is owned by the Grand River Land Trust and is located on the east side of the Grand River about 1½ miles north of Highway 3. Nets are set up in the brushy edge of the wooded area that surrounds an old mansion situated high on the east bank of the Grand River. Banding is carried out in an old outbuilding on the estate.

The Rock Point station is located in Rock Point Provincial Park located just east of the mouth of the Grand River on Lake Erie. The banding site is accessible to the public but rarely used and contains small isolated clumps of trees such as dogwood.

In 2000, the 3 stations that make up the Haldimand Bird Observatory banded a total of 12,575 birds of 117 species. The top 10 species banded were as follows: American Goldfinch (1328), Golden-crowned Kinglet (1090), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1014), White-throated Sparrow (924), Song Sparrow (796), Slate-colored Junco (755), Yellow Warbler (514), Yellow-rumped Warbler (487), Gray Catbird (445) and Magnolia Warbler (349).

Atlantic Bird Observatory - Seal Island & Bon Portage Island Migration Monitoring Stations; Atlantic Bird Observatory, Nova Scotia

Established in 1996 the Atlantic Bird Observatory is a designated member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) and operates two field stations: Seal and Bon Portage (Outer) Islands, situated off the southwest coast of Nova Scotia. Seal Island is situated about 16 km off the extreme southwest coast of Nova Scotia. The southern half of Seal Island is designated as the migration monitoring area. Seal Island is owned in part by the Department of Transport and Communications, and the banding station is on their land. Bon Portage is situated 15 km east of Seal Island near mainland Nova Scotia. The migration monitoring area of Bon Portage encompasses the southern half of the island. Bon Portage Island is owned by Acadia University and the Department of Transport and Communications. Habitat on both islands is primarily spruce forest, with shrubby understory. Due to the fact that both sites are only accessible by boat, the number of visitors is minimal. Excellent living and working facilities exist at both sites. The primary goal of the Atlantic Bird Observatory is to use migration counts to monitor landbird populations on a long_term basis. Data collected will contribute to the larger scale effort of the CMMN. The association of the observatory with Acadia University allows other aspects of migration to be studied.

In 2000 a total of 558 birds of 59 species were banded during spring migration and 2,236 birds of 71 species were banded during fall migration. A total of 80 species were banded in 2000.

Spring migration began at Bon Portage Island on 28 April, however, the first significant movement of birds did not occur until 16 May. 69 individuals of 16 species were banded and the highlight of the day was the banding of 17 Magnolia Warblers! The Seal Island station also observed significant movement on 16 May.

Fall migration began at Bob Portage on 15 August. By the end of the season a total of 1,989 birds of 67 species had been banded at the station. As in previous years, large movements of Myrtle Warblers were observed on Bon Portage Island and a total of 473 were banded. On 22 September approximately 400 American Kestrels were observed migrating during the span of a few hours. August 15, 20 and 29 were busy days with 68, 70 and 83 birds banded respectively. September was very slow, but October was quite busy. 12-15 October saw banding totalling more than 100 individuals each day. Seal Island experienced similar patterns, but few numbers, banding 247 birds of 38 species during the fall season.

Vaseaux Lake Bird Observatory; Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA)

Vaseaux Lake is located at the narrowest point in the Okanagan Valley, the high cliffs on either side of the lake acting as a funnel for all birds migrating along the valley floor. It likely intercepts birds migrating from northern and central BC, central Alaska and western Yukon; overlapping only slightly with Mackenzie and Revelstoke, the only other migration monitoring stations in the interior of British Columbia.

The Observatory has been located since 1995 at the north end of Vaseaux Lake, BC on land owned by BC parks and the Canadian Wildlife Service. The Observatory has not operated since 1998, but the intent of the project is to operate on a part-time basis in spring 2001 and full-time in fall 2001. The long-term objectives are to establish the Observatory as a locally-run organization that will operate the migration monitoring station every year for the foreseeable future, becoming a full-fledged member of the CMMN. The habitat is riparian woodland, dominated by low alder and water birch, some wet meadows and marshes and two oxbows of the Okanagan River.

The top ten species banded at Vaseaux as at 14 August are: Gray Catbird (97), Yellow Warbler (71), Cedar Waxwing (65), Song Sparrow (54), Willow Flycatcher (52), American Goldfinch (37), Common Yellowthroat (29), Northern Waterthrush (19), Rufous Hummingbird (15), Black-capped Chickadee (15).

Mackenzie (Mugaha Marsh) Migration Monitoring Station; Mackenzie Nature Observatory, British Columbia

The goal of the Mugaha Marsh program is to monitor changes in the populations of small landbirds that migrate through the Mackenzie area, by providing consistent and comparable annual indices of population size and structure, survival rates, species composition and migration timing. Of particular concern are species not monitored effectively with other methods like the Breeding Bird Survey and/or species that have shown declines in other regions. Mackenzie lies in the Rocky Mountain Trench, a large valley immediately west of the Rocky Mountains, a suitable location to monitor migration of species that breed in the forests and mountains of northern BC and the YK. To provide a broader understanding of migration patterns in the area, censuses are also conducted at Gagnon creek and Chichouyenily creek. The primary banding station is situated at Mugaha Marsh, along Williston reservoir, a prominent funnelling feature in the landscape. Mugaha Marsh is approximately 12 km north of Mackenzie. The site is the most northern migration monitoring station in BC. Mugaha's first full season was in 1995. The Mugaha Marsh banding site includes banding and living facilities, 18 net lanes and a daily census route centred on the public wildlife_viewing site. The site is on crown land managed by the BC Ministry of Forests and the municipality of Mackenzie. The site is proposed as a Sensitive Area under the Forest Practices Code Act of BC providing a designation of the site that allows for the long_term presence of the banding station. The upland habitat is primarily shrub dominated and subject to regular flooding by the Williston Reservoir.

The top 10 species banded at Mackenzie in 2000 were: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (215), Pine Siskin (210), American Redstart (169), Wilson’s Warbler (167), Orange-crowned Warbler (120), Black-capped Chickadee (101), Alder Flycatcher (99), Swainson’s Thrush (87), Oregon Junco (70).

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary; Calgary Bird Banding Society, Alberta

The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (IBS) migration monitoring program is the flagship project of the Calgary Bird Banding Society. The IBS migration monitoring site is located along the Bow River within Calgary and 80 km east of the Rocky Mountains thereby occupying a unique and strategic position in the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network. There is no potential overlap with other sites. It is a Federal Bird Sanctuary known for its flights of warblers and other migrants during migration. The habitat is mature riparian balsam poplar forest with a well-developed, impenetrable understorey of Red-Osier Dogwood, Saskatoon etc. - a stable old-growth forest. The primary banding lab is in the field and the migration monitoring area is in the reserve portion of the sanctuary and is closed to the public.

Many Neotropical priority species migrate through IBS including: Blackpoll Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler, Palm Warbler, Alder Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Western Wood-Pewee, American Redstart, Red-eyed Vireo, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Black-and-White Warbler, and Western Tanager.

In 2001 the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary will operate during fall migration from 25 July to 30 September.

Mount Lorette Migration Monitoring Station, Alberta; Peter Sherrington

The Mount Lorette station was established in 1992 and is located in a Provincial Recreation area in the Kananaskis Valley about one hour from Calgary.

The aims of the project are to record and monitor trends in raptor populations using the Rocky Mountains as a migration path, especially the Golden Eagle. This is one of the few sites anywhere in the world that is watched in both spring and fall. In 2001 the station will operate in spring from 16 February to 25 May and in fall from 25 August to 10 December for a total of 175 days coverage per year.

The principal species being studied are Golden Eagle (62,454 recorded to date) and Bald Eagle (5,259 to date), together with other raptor species.

To summarize by group:

1. Peregrine Falcon (74), Merlin (182)

2. Rough-legged Hawk (845)

3. Osprey (134)

4. Bald Eagle (5259), Northern Harrier (324), Sharp-shinned Hawk (2934), and Red-tailed Hawk (1098).

A standard protocol is used by all observers. For each bird sighted the following information is recorded: time, species (race, age, morph), exact route and flight method employed. The manual has codes for 126 plumage types for the 18 species of raptor that occur at the site. In addition, systematic weather data are taken on the hour, and all changes within the hour are noted. The site is occupied each day, regardless of the weather.

All birds and mammals seen at and from the site are systematically recorded, considerably increasing knowledge of the migration through the mountains of groups as diverse as loons, waterfowl, shorebirds, swifts, flycatchers, warblers and sparrows.

Last Mountain Bird Observatory, Saskatchewan; Nature Saskatchewan

Last Mountain Bird Observatory is located 14 km west of Govan in Last Mountain Regional Park at the north end of Last Mountain Lake. It is the only migration monitoring station in Saskatchewan and forms an important link between observatories at Beaverhill Lake in Alberta and Delta Marsh in Manitoba.

The site is jointly owned by Last Mountain Regional Park and Canadian Wildlife Service. Last Mountain Bird Observatory is open to the public and jointly run by the Canadian Wildlife Service and Nature Saskatchewan. The early to mid-successional "subclimax" habitat remains relatively unchanged due to poor soils and drought-like conditions in the area. Because of this, no habitat management is necessary other than clearing net lanes of vegetation at the start of each fall season.

Last Mountain completed it’s 11^th full season in 2000, banding 3977 birds of 75 species. The top ten species banded in 2000 follow: Yellow-rumped Warbler (1294), Yellow Warbler (586), Chipping Sparrow (179), Alder Flycatcher (150), Clay-coloured Sparrow (137), Dark-eyed Junco (128), Least Flycatcher (125), Tennessee Warbler (119), Orange-crowned Warbler (106) and White-throated Sparrow (86).

In 2001 Last Mountain’s migration monitoring program will operate during spring from 7 May to 31 May and in the fall from1 August to 10 October.

St. Andrews Banding Station, St. Andrews, NB; Tracey Dean

Note: Tracey Dean applied for a Regular Grant, however the Trustees felt that the proposal was better suited to a Migration Monitoring Grant.

In 12 years of operation, 8313 birds of 86 species have been banded at St. Andrews. The St. Andrews Banding Station collects bi-weekly data in the spring, contributes summer data to the Institute of Bird Populations Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) project and opens its mist nets as often as possible in the fall. Spring migration is usually slow on the East Coast, but it is also a time when many "old friends" return and the Station is continually updating its longevity records. One Blackburnian Warbler is now over 7 years old! Between 7 -10% of the birds originally banded during spring migration are recaptured in later years. Summer data has been submitted to the MAPS project since 1991 and the Station plans to continue these efforts as it is one of only three MAPS sites in Atlantic Canada.

In 2001, Dean plans to expand the fall monitoring in September to a daily basis. Data collected at this time has, and will continue to be summarized for the Northeast Region - Atlantic Flyway Review. In the past the St. Andrews Station has often reported a higher number of birds per 100 net hours than other sites. Is this due to its more inland location ir is it due to the select number of days the Station operates? Daily coverage will help to answer that question.

In 2001, Dean also hopes to initiate a ground trap project. While the mist nets are well placed for birds moving along and through hedgerows; sparrows and juncos often avoid capture by remaining in more open spaces. Ground traps will help increase the capture of these species.

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