New Warbler
Species Described

PIF: 20 Years of
Bird Conservation

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8 January 2010 
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New Warbler Species Described

Photo: Pete Davidson

8 January 2010 – A beautiful olive-green and yellow warbler, resident in forests growing on the rugged limestone karsts of Laos and Vietnam, has been described as a new species. When the Limestone Leaf Warbler was first seen in 1994, it was presumed to be a very similar-looking member of a large genus of Old World warblers, the Sulphur-breasted Warbler. Ornithologists began to question that assumption when the bird was found to be present year-round, and produced significantly different vocalizations. Further research, including genetic work, revealed it is indeed a different species, which is fully described in the most recent issue of the journal Ibis.
   The Limestone Leaf Warbler was discovered by a team of scientists from BirdLife International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Laos PDR’s Department of Forestry, Vietnam’s Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Renowned Swedish ornithologist Per Alstrom is the study’s lead author, and undertook most of the detailed genetic research and analytical work; Bird Studies Canada’s Pete Davidson was involved in the discovery, and is a co-author on the paper.
   “This is the latest in a series of discoveries made over the past two decades, of more than 10 bird and mammal species previously unknown to science, all of which inhabit the Annamite Mountain chain,” Davidson said. “The distinctive limestone landscape where these animals live is extremely difficult to access, a crucial factor enhancing conservation prospects. While the warbler is thought to be common in its preferred habitat, even forests on limestone karst are under pressure from subsistence agriculture and wood collection, practices that threaten other recently-discovered species.”

PIF: 20 Years of Bird Conservation

5 January 2010 – This year, Partners in Flight (PIF) is celebrating 20 years of bird conservation activity. Launched in 1990, PIF arose in response to concerns over declines among neotropical migrant landbirds (which breed in North America and winter in Latin America and the Caribbean). PIF’s main message has been that the resources of public and private organizations in this hemisphere have to be combined, coordinated, and increased to conserve our shared bird populations.
   Events throughout the year will highlight the PIF anniversary. For example, PIF will share the spotlight in the International Migratory Bird Day theme, “The Power of Partnerships.” There will also be a Special Session at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Milwaukee on March 22-27, 2010.
   Bird Studies Canada is a member of the National Working Group for PIF-Canada. As a member of the PIF Science Committee, Andrew Couturier (BSC’s Senior Analyst, Landscape Ecology and Conservation) is participating in the development of “Saving our Shared Birds: The Partners in Flight Tri-National Vision.” Stay tuned for details!

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BSC and Acadia Establish Chair of Ornithology

8 January 2010 – After a period of 2 ½ years at Bird Studies Canada’s Port Rowan headquarters as our Chief Scientist, Dr. Phil Taylor has returned to his position as a professor at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. Through an arrangement negotiated between the University and Bird Studies Canada (BSC), he will continue his affiliation with our programs and staff through the establishment of the BSC Chair of Ornithology at Acadia, a unique arrangement for both institutions.
   In this capacity, Dr. Taylor will continue to undertake research and graduate teaching of direct interest to BSC. He will continue programs at BSC in Port Rowan, and will spend part of each year here. He will also maintain programs in the Maritimes, in collaboration with regional BSC staff. We at BSC are thrilled that we have been able to continue a relationship with Phil which has expanded our science capacity, and we look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Acadia University.

Call for Applications – Baillie Fund Small Grant Program

8 January 2010 – Applications for the Small Grant Program of the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund are due within one week, by January 15, 2010. Up to 10 grants, ranging in amount from $250 to $1000 each, are available through this program for individuals or non-profit groups for volunteer-based projects. Project expenses covered by previous grants include, for example, purchases of mist nets or educational materials, production of data forms or information brochures, and volunteer recruitment expenses. Grant decisions will be announced by April. Visit the Bird Studies Canada website for application forms and additional information.
   Using proceeds of the annual Baillie Birdathon, the Baillie Fund supports projects that increase the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of Canadian birds in their natural environment. For more information, contact the Baillie Fund Secretary at aheagy@birdscanada.org or 1-888-448-2473 ext. 166.

2010 YOW: Teen Birders Invited to Apply!

7 January 2010 – The 2010 Doug Tarry Natural History Fund’s Young Ornithologists’ Workshop will be held at Long Point Bird Observatory near Port Rowan, Ontario, from Friday, July 30 to Sunday, August 8. Participants will receive hands-on field ornithology training, including bird banding, censusing, field identification, birding trips, preparing museum specimens, guest lectures, and more! Six of Canada’s most promising ornithologists between the ages of 13-17 will be selected to attend, and will receive the Doug Tarry Bird Study Award to cover all on-site expenses. For those traveling long distances, special grants may also be available to help offset air travel costs. Applications are due April 30, 2010. For more information and an application form, contact our Landbird Programs Coordinator at lpbo@birdscanada.org, or visit the Bird Studies Canada website.

ACE-ÉCO: New Issue; Call for Papers

6 January 2010 – The latest issue of Avian Conservation and Ecology – Écologie et Conservation des Oiseaux (ACE-ÉCO), Volume 4, Issue 2, has been published. ACE-ÉCO is an open-access, fully electronic scientific journal that was established jointly by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists and Bird Studies Canada to publish studies that address basic ecological hypotheses in the context of contemporary management issues. To browse the table of contents or read a variety of new articles, visit the ACE-ÉCO website. 
   Continuing in a series that includes special features on the ecology and conservation of boreal forest and grassland birds, Phil Taylor (BSC Chair of Ornithology at Acadia) and Jon McCracken (BSC’s Director of National Programs) are acting as guest editors for a special feature on the population dynamics of aerial insectivores – a foraging guild that includes swifts, goatsuckers, swallows, and flycatchers. For details, select this link to view the call for papers.

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Northern Saw-whet Owl Article Published

7 January 2010 – An article co-authored by Debbie Badzinski, Bird Studies Canada’s Ontario Program Manager, has been published in the Journal of Ornithology. “The numerical response of breeding Northern Saw-whet Owls suggests nomadism” used data from BSC’s Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey and from Long Point Bird Observatory’s Northern Saw-whet Owl banding. Authors Jeff Bowman (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources), Debbie Badzinski (Bird Studies Canada), and Ronald Brooks (University of Guelph) assessed the numerical response of the owls to small-mammal prey species, and found that the finite rate of increase of breeding owls was directly related to estimates of red-backed vole abundance. To learn more, visit the Journal of Ornithology website.

SK FeederWatchers Spot Rare Rustic Bunting

Photo: Harvey Schmidt

6 January 2010 – Project FeederWatch participants Harvey and Brenda Schmidt of Creighton, Saskatchewan, welcomed an extremely unusual visitor to their yard in December: the first Rustic Bunting ever confirmed in the province. This Eurasian species breeds from Scandinavia to northern Siberia and typically winters in China and Japan. Vagrants sometimes appear on North America’s west coast, but never so far inland! Two other Rustic Buntings were reported by a FeederWatcher in Alaska in the fall. Select this link to learn more.

Caroline Brady Completes M.Sc.

6 January 2010 – Caroline Brady successfully completed her M.Sc. with Long Point Waterfowl in December. She studied the effects of dietary selenium on the health and survival of Lesser Scaup during fall, winter, and spring. She found that selenium did not impair immune response, but had an immuno-stimulatory effect on antibody production. She found a weak negative correlation of hepatic selenium and indices of oxidative stress.
   This study suggests that, while there was no evidence for most of the health effects tested, there is the possibility that elevated selenium burdens could compromise the condition of scaup during extreme winter conditions. However, the study indicates it is unlikely that selenium acquisition on the lower Great Lakes is contributing to the continental scaup decline or lack of recovery. Based on these results, and recent breeding and wintering ground studies, future research may focus on alternative hypotheses for scaup declines.

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