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25 January 2008 
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Laysan Duck Population on the Rise

Photo: James H. Breeden/Rare Birds Yearbook

18 January 2008 – U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists have announced that the Critically Endangered Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis) had a very successful 2007 breeding season.
   The Laysan Duck was once widespread throughout the Hawaiian Islands, but was extirpated from all but Laysan Island by 1860. To increase the geographic distribution of this species and reduce its risk of extinction, 42 individuals were transported across the Pacific to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in 2004 and 2005. In only three years, the translocated population has increased to about 200 individuals. Read more on the BirdLife International website.

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BC Breeding Bird Atlas Launches Website

25 January 2008 – We are excited to announce the launch of the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas website.  As of late last week, birders are now able to register for the upcoming breeding season. The website consists of a simple overview at this stage, but be sure to bookmark it and check for a host of updates and expansions in the coming months, including a variety of resources (maps, regional species lists, atlassing manuals, field dataforms), a bird of the month feature, and news of a sailing trip to the remote Great Bear Rainforest that is in the works.
  A January 17 front page story in the Vancouver Sun  provided province-wide coverage for the project. This news story, along with birding listserv announcements, prompted over 150 atlassers to register within the first four days! Spring is just around the corner, and already the first Anna’s Hummingbird has been recorded nest-building. The Atlas Coordination Office hopes that thousands of birders will join over the course of the seven-year project. Start to plan your summer in BC by joining in the fun!

New Issue of Avian Conservation and Ecology Now Available

11 January 2008 – The latest issue of Avian Conservation and Ecology – Écologie et Conservation des Oiseaux (ACE-ÉCO), Volume 2, Issue 2, December 2007, has been published. This open-access, fully electronic scientific journal is sponsored by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists and Bird Studies Canada. To browse the table of contents or read a variety of new articles, visit the ACE-ÉCO website.

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Recherche de participants pour inventorier les hiboux nocturnes au Québec

Le 25 janvier 2008 – Ce printemps, Études d’Oiseaux Canada lancera la première saison de l’Inventaire des hiboux nocturnes du Québec. Grâce au soutien financier du fonds commémoratif Albert B. Kelly de l’organisme Protection des oiseaux du Québec et d’une aide en nature d’Environnement Canada, ce programme permettra de mieux connaître la répartition, l’abondance et les fluctuations à long terme des espèces les plus abondantes. Cet inventaire se réalisera en bordure des routes et utilisera la repasse de chants pour provoquer une réponse vocale de la part des hiboux. Chaque route, constituée de dix arrêts intercalés aux 2 km à l’intérieur d’un habitat dominé par la forêt, sera inventoriée lors d’une soirée en avril. Les personnes de toutes parts de la province sont invitées à participer et nous espérons recruter au moins 75 personnes lors de cette première édition. Pour vous inscrire ou pour obtenir plus d’information, communiquez avec Catherine Poussart (sans frais au 1-866-518-0212 ou 418 649-6062; cpoussart@bsc-eoc.org) ou visitez la page Internet.

Québec Owl Surveyors Wanted!

25 January 2008 – This spring, Bird Studies Canada will launch a Québec Nocturnal Owl Survey, with financial support from Bird Protection Québec’s Kelly Fund and in-kind support from Environment Canada. The program will help us document and assess distribution, abundance, and population trends for Québec’s owl species. Participants will conduct roadside surveys, using playback calls to elicit vocal responses from nearby owls. Each survey route consists of 10 stops positioned 2 km apart in forested areas, to be surveyed once during an evening in April. People from all parts of the province are invited to participate and we hope to recruit at least 75 people for the 2008 season. To register or to receive more information, please contact Catherine Poussart (toll-free 1-866-518-0212 or 418-649-6062; cpoussart@bsc-eoc.org) or visit the Québec Nocturnal Owl Survey web page.

Results in from 2007 British Columbia-Yukon Owl Survey

24 January 2008 – Thank you owlers! The results have been tallied for the BC-Yukon Nocturnal Owl Survey 2007 season. Ninety-two participants did 91 owl surveys along 85 routes across British Columbia and Yukon, detecting 276 owls. These totals are all down a little from last year, but the good news is that the number of owls seen per 10 stops increased dramatically this year to 2.34, the highest detection rate since the survey began. Western Screech-Owl reports from the coast dropped to zero this year and only three were heard on Southern Interior routes. Great Horned and Barred owl reports dipped slightly throughout the survey region; in fact, no Barred Owls were reported from the Southern Interior at all. Boreal Owl numbers climbed for the second year in a row, with 34 in the Northern and three in the Southern Interior. Northern Saw-whet Owl detections went up sharply throughout the Interior, with 65 in the Southern and 85 in the Central Interior. A special survey for Flammulated Owls in late May and early June detected 14 Flammulated Owls and 44 Common Poorwills. Both of these species are very poorly monitored by other programs, so it’s great to get data on their numbers and whereabouts.
  Select this link to view the full newsletter report on BSC’s website.

Online MMP Training Now Available

24 January 2008 – The Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) has teamed up with the United States Geological Survey – Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to launch online amphibian call training and testing. The USGS Frog Quiz website already provides training and testing to several other amphibian monitoring programs, and the MMP is excited to join their ranks.
   Volunteer amphibian surveyors and the public can use the Frog-Call Lookup under ‘Ontario’ to access a list of Great Lakes Basin anurans and hear sound-files of their calls. Site visitors can also try their skills using the Public Quiz, a fun way to gain experience and learn to quickly and accurately identify Great Lakes Basin species.
   For MMP amphibian surveyors, 2008 is a test-year for a more formal quiz available under the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) test website. The MMP is gathering information about online testing as a way to help volunteers gain confidence in their skills and to improve data quality in the future. For information on how to log in to the NAAMP quiz, contact the MMP at aqsurvey@birdscanada.org.

Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Celebrations

11 January 2008 – All are welcome to two events celebrating the publication of the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005.
   The Ottawa launch will be held at the Canadian Museum of Nature on Wednesday, January 30 from 6-8 p.m. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the atlas office at atlas@uoguelph.ca or 1-866-900-7100.
   The Toronto launch will take place at the Royal Ontario Museum on Sunday, February 10, from 2-5 p.m. To attend, please RSVP by Monday, February 4 to atlas@uoguelph.ca or 1-866-900-7100.
   Pre-ordered copies can be picked up at the events. Books will also be available for purchase ($92.50 plus GST, cash or cheque only), or you can order online.

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