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11 January 2008 
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Rare Birds Yearbook 2008 Helps Critically Endangered Species

11 January 2008 – The Rare Birds Yearbook 2008, published in partnership with BirdLife International, describes the situations of 189 bird species categorized as Critically Endangered on a global scale. The publication aims to improve the chances of survival for these birds in two ways: by highlighting the circumstances that have pushed a large number of species to the brink of extinction, and by raising funds for BirdLife International’s conservation work, by donating a portion of the proceeds from each book sold. The book should be equally engaging for general readers and dedicated birders. Visit the Rare Birds Yearbook website  to learn more or to purchase your copy.

Record Number of Whooping Cranes Wintering in Texas

1 January 2008 – The only self-sustaining wild population of the endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana) breeds in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park and winters at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coast of Texas. This winter, the flock has grown to a record high of an estimated 266 birds. An aerial census conducted December 20 located 253 individuals, and more were believed to be at other locations or still in migration at that time. A season of successful breeding and extremely good survival of both adults and juveniles through the spring and summer nesting and the fall migration have contributed to the high numbers on the wintering grounds. Select this link to read the most recent report by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Whooping Crane Coordinator Tom Stehn.

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 BSC Hires Prairies MMP Coordinator

Dr. Kiel Drake

11 January 2008 – BSC is pleased to announce that the Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) is expanding into the Prairie Provinces region of Canada, and that Dr. Kiel Drake has joined the BSC team. As the Northern Prairie and Parkland Region MMP Coordinator, Kiel will establish and develop the MMP (and hopefully other BSC programs) in this important ecological region of Canada.
   Kiel brings a vast array of waterfowl, waterbird, and wetland related knowledge and experience to Bird Studies Canada. Kiel’s background includes winter ecology research on the Piping Plover, breeding ecology of arctic-breeding waterfowl, and population demographics of ‘light’ (Ross’s and Lesser Snow) geese.
   Kiel’s position will be strategically based out of the Prairie Northern Wildlife Research Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which is centrally located within the prairie pothole region, and is also home base for numerous migratory bird and wetland habitat scientists and specialists of the Canadian Wildlife Service and University of Saskatchewan. Development of BSC programs and partnerships in Canada’s Prairie Provinces region is a very important initiative for the continued development of bird monitoring and conservation.

Call for Applications – Student Awards for Ornithological Research

10 January 2008 – Applications for the various Student Research Awards offered annually by Bird Studies Canada and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists (SCO) are due by February 15, 2008. Awards sponsored in whole or in part by BSC include: the James L. Baillie Student Research Award, funded by proceeds of the Baillie Birdathon; the Fred Cooke Student Research Award, offered jointly by BSC and SCO; and the new Junco Technologies Award, sponsored by Junco Technologies Inc. in cooperation with BSC. These awards are open to students conducting ornithological research at a Canadian university. Application forms and additional information are available on the Society of Canadian Ornithologists website.

Appel de candidatures – Bourses étudiantes pour la recherche ornithologique

Le 11 janvier 2008 – La mise en candidature pour les bourses étudiantes de recherche offertes annuellement par Études d’Oiseaux Canada (ÉOC) et la Société des ornithologistes du Canada (SOC) est ouverte jusqu’au 15 février 2008. Les bourses commanditées, en partie ou en entier, par Études d’Oiseaux Canada sont : la bourse de recherche étudiante James L. Baillie financée par les revenus du Baillie Birdathon ; la bourse de recherche étudiante Fred Cooke, offerte conjointement par ÉOC et SOC ; et la nouvelle bourse Junco Technologies commanditée par Junco Technologies Inc. en coopération avec ÉOC. Ces bourses sont offertes aux étudiant(e)s qui effectuent des études ornithologiques dans une université canadienne. Les formulaires d’application et de l’information additionnelle (en anglais seulement) sont disponibles sur le site Internet de la Société des ornithologistes du Canada.

Remembering Don Baldwin, LPBO Co-Founder

27 December 2007 – It is with sadness that we report the death of Donald H. Baldwin on December 22, 2007, in his 74^th year. Don was one of the founding pioneers of Long Point Bird Observatory, whose early vision developed into what we see today. On the Victoria Day and Civic Holiday weekends in 1959, Don, his wife Maureen, and David Hussell hiked out to Courtright Ridge carrying tents and banding equipment, to investigate the prospects for establishing a banding station at the "Breakwater," the southwest end of the ridge. Pleased with what they found, Don and David, along with Jim Woodford and Bill Wasserfall, contributed the money to purchase a 1947 Jeep, which served as LPBO’s means of transportation for the next two years.
   The first memorable trip to the Tip of the Point was made on Thanksgiving weekend 1959. Thus the die was cast and LPBO was officially launched in the spring of 1960. Don was active in the development of the observatory, both in the field and serving on the initial organizing committee and later on the LPBO Board, in the 1960s and well into the 1970s, and intermittently thereafter. Don was employed in the ornithology department in the Royal Ontario Museum in the early 1960s. Later he became a natural science teacher at Upper Canada College. After retirement from teaching, he and Maureen moved to Grand Manan, New Brunswick, where they operated a B&B for several years and led nature tours. A few years ago they came ‘home’ to Port Rowan and Don could often be found at LPBO’s Old Cut field station watching birds, observing the banding, or reminiscing about the early years of LPBO. He will be fondly remembered and missed by those who knew him.
   At the family’s request, memorial donations can be made to Bird Studies Canada for the Long Point Bird Observatory Endowment Fund by calling Rosie Kirton at 519-586-3531 ext. 221.

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Support for the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas Continues to Grow

9 January 2008 – BMO Nesbitt Burns and the John and Judy Bragg Family Foundation have each committed $25,000 to the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas project over the next five years. The Atlas is a five-year, volunteer-based project to assess the distribution, abundance, and status of birds breeding in NB, NS, and PE. Already, 700 volunteers have dedicated 17,000 hours to combing the Maritimes in search of breeding birds. The final product, an extensive online database and hard-copy publication, will be used by wildlife managers, environmental consultants, researchers, and policy makers to delineate critical breeding bird habitat and set future conservation priorities. Support from groups like BMO Nesbitt Burns and the John and Judy Family Bragg Foundation are key to ensuring the project’s success. If you would like to help support the Atlas project, please visit the MBBA website.

Les aides pour l’Atlas des Oiseaux Nicheurs des Maritimes continuent d’affluer

Le 9 janvier 2008 – BMO Nesbitt Burns et la Fondation John and Judy Bragg Family se sont tous deux engagés B fournir une aide de 25 000$ au projet de l’Atlas des Oiseaux Nicheurs des Maritimes et ce étalée sur une période de cinq ans. L’Atlas est un projet B base volontaire de cinq années qui a pour but d’estimer la distribution, l’abondance et le statut des oiseaux nichant au NB, en NÉ et B l’IPE. DéjB, 700 volontaires ont effectués 17 000 heures de recensement dans les Maritimes, B la recherche des espPces nidificatrices. Le produit final, une base de données détaillée en ligne ainsi qu’une publication, seront utilisés par les gestionnaires de la faune, les consultants environnementaux, les chercheurs et les agences gouvernementales afin de déterminer les habitats critiques des espPces nidificatrices et de déterminer les futures priorités de conservations. Le support offert par des groupes tels BMO Nesbitt Burns et la Fondation John and Judy Bragg Family sont d’importants facteurs dans les succPs du projet. Si vous aimeriez offrir votre support au projet de l’Atlas, veuillez visiter notre site web.

Scaup Have Reached Wintering Areas

7 January 2008 – Greater and Lesser scaup implanted with satellite transmitters by the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund (LPWWRF) during spring migration 2006 and 2007 on the lower Great Lakes have arrived at wintering areas. Greater Scaup are currently located at the upper Mississippi River – Minnesota/Wisconsin, eastern Lake Ontario – Hamilton Harbour, western Lake Ontario – Thousand Islands area, and coastal New Hampshire. Lesser Scaup have taken up winter residence at more southerly locations in the eastern United States, with birds using Lac des Allemands – Louisiana, Chesapeake Bay – Virginia, and Currituck Sound – North Carolina, with most using several locales in Florida. Notably, two Lesser Scaup have traveled further south and are currently in Cuba. Be sure to check "Scaup Tracker" periodically to keep up to date with these birds’ movements throughout winter and the upcoming spring.

Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Celebrations

11 January 2007 – Events celebrating the publication of the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005 will take place in Ottawa at the Canadian Museum of Nature on Wednesday, January 30 from 6-8 pm, and in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum on Sunday, February 10, from 2-5 pm. People attending these events have free access to the museums.
   Everyone is welcome, but people attending the launch in Toronto need to RSVP in advance (by Monday, February 4th) to the atlas office (atlas@uoguelph.ca or 1-866-900-7100) so that the ROM can make necessary arrangements for admissions and passes. Those attending the Ottawa launch are also asked to RSVP so organizers know how many people to expect.
   Those who pre-ordered the book can pick up their copy at the event and copies will be available for purchase ($92.50 plus GST, cash or cheque only). Visit the atlas web page for more details on these events.

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