Come and Enjoy a “Swift Night
Out”
17 May 2013
– Bird Studies Canada and SwiftWatch Volunteer Regional Coordinators are
hosting “Swift Night Out” events in several communities this spring.
Come out and learn about the Chimney Swift, and witness the evening
spectacle of large flocks gathering before flying into a chimney to rest
for the night.
Toronto’s “Swift Night Out” event will take place on Wednesday, May
22 at 8:00 p.m. Meet at Moss Park by the Armoury (northeast corner of
Jarvis St. and Queen St. E.). Contact
krichardson@birdscanada.org
for information.
Those in the Barrie area are invited to a “Swift Night Out”
on Wednesday, June 5 at 8:15 p.m., at the municipal parking lot beside
the Grey & Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum (corner of Collier and
Mulcaster Streets). Contact Inga Brinckman at 705-727-9071 to learn
more.
For more information about Ontario SwiftWatch, visit
Bird
Studies Canada’s website or
YouTube channel.
Or become a “Friend of Swifts” on Facebook at
fb.com/ontarioswift to learn about
more “Swift Night Out” events as they are scheduled. Ontario SwiftWatch
is supported by the Government of Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation,
and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
BC Breeding Bird Atlas
Receives Award
15 May 2013
– The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation awarded their prestigious
“Silver Award” (Wildlife Category) to the
British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas
project at the BC Nature AGM in Abbotsford earlier this month. Named
after Rod Silver, long-time manager of HCTF, the award is presented to
the HCTF project that is considered to have made the greatest
contribution toward conservation, and that best exemplifies the
Foundation’s objectives. Bird Studies Canada’s Christopher Di Corrado
(BC Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator) and Anne Murray (BC Nature, and BSC
Board member) accepted the award from HCTF’s Dr. Ken Ashley. “This award
is a tribute to the team approach of the BC Breeding Bird Atlas,
combining the complementary strengths of many partners and supporters,
and to the enormous difference hundreds of skilled volunteers can make,”
said Pete Davidson, Senior Program Advisor with Bird Studies Canada.
Thank You, Habitat
Conservation Trust Foundation
15 May 2013
– We are delighted to announce continued Habitat Conservation Trust
Foundation funding for the British
Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas publication process through
2013-14. HCTF has contributed $143,500 to the project since 2009, which
has been crucial in facilitating access to remote hinterlands, and to
building innovative partnerships with remote resource-user groups,
including members of the Guide Outfitter Association of BC, and the BC
Floatplane Association. HCTF’s contribution of $34,500 to the Atlas this
year will support the publication process, in which we aim to engage
even more British Columbians in the project through writing and
photographic submissions. Prior to the Atlas, HCTF funded the
development of the (now annual) trends analysis for the
BC Coastal
Waterbird Survey, a barometer for how almost 60 species of
coastal birds are faring during the non-breeding season. We sincerely
thank HCTF for their long-term support of Bird Studies Canada
partnership projects.
Ontario Chorus Frog and Marsh
Bird Species at Risk Project
15 May 2013
– Bird Studies Canada recently received generous financial support to
enhance monitoring of marsh frog and bird species at risk in Ontario.
The funding will target the Endangered King Rail; two Threatened
species, Western Chorus Frog and Least Bittern; and Yellow Rail (Special
Concern). Knowing where these species are and what habitats they are
using will aid in their recovery.
BSC is calling on volunteers and members of the public to report
locations where these species are currently found, or have been found in
the past. We’re also asking project participants to describe the habitat
at each location. BSC will use the information generated by the project,
in part, to work closely with selected landowners to improve habitat for
these species on private land.
To report a Western Chorus Frog, Least Bittern, King Rail, or
Yellow Rail location and associated habitat, please take a couple
minutes to fill out this
online form. Your effort will contribute to recovery of these
rare species in Ontario.
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the
Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment.
BSC Launches Barn Swallow
NestWatch
Barn Swallow nestlings Photo: Alan Vernon
15 May 2013
– Barn Swallows are common and widespread. However, their populations
are declining rapidly across Canada, and the species is classified as
Threatened in Ontario. Many aerial insectivores are experiencing
dramatic population declines, including other swallows, and Chimney
Swifts. To learn more about threats to Barn Swallows, Bird Studies
Canada is launching Barn Swallow NestWatch in Ontario...and you can
help!
Barn Swallow NestWatch is part of
Project NestWatch
– a citizen science program that help us follow and understand the
health of bird populations through the long-term monitoring of nesting
activity. Valuable data collected through provincial and regional nest
record schemes across Canada, and by NestWatch volunteers, supports
effective conservation efforts for wild birds and their habitats.
Although our new focus is on Barn Swallows, we are also interested in
gathering data on nests of any bird in Canada. Please contact
projectnestwatch@birdscanada.org for more information.
Assistance for this project was provided by the Government of
Ontario in partnership with Environment Canada, the Royal Ontario
Museum, and provincial and regional nest record schemes across Canada.
BC Breeding Bird
Surveyors Wanted
15 May 2013
– The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is North America’s primary source of
long-term, large-scale breeding bird population data. One day a year
during the peak of the breeding season (late May to early July),
volunteer BBS observers survey assigned roadside routes. Survey data are
used by scientists and managers to understand population trends and
distribution changes. More than half of Canada’s 1000 active BBS routes
are surveyed each year, but more volunteers are needed to fill gaps in
survey coverage.
Surveyors must be able to identify all regional species by sight
and song, and should ideally be able to commit to their route for at
least two years (though we can still use data from surveyors who can
only run a route once). Each route is about 40 km long, with 50 stops
spaced every 800 m, and takes about four to five hours to complete.
Beginners may consider assisting an experienced BBS observer before
taking on their own route. To volunteer, contact BC BBS Coordinator Dick
Cannings at dickcannings@shaw.ca.
To view a map of vacant routes, visit the
BBS website.
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