Archives

Adopt a Bird for the Holidays 
through Project Recovery

28 October 2005 
Download a Printable PDF Version  

 

Avian Flu in the News

27 October 2005 - Avian Flu is receiving world-wide attention as cases of the virulent strain H5N1 continue to spread to new geographical areas in Europe and Asia. While opinions vary, some main messages are emerging from the bird conservation community: effective control should focus on the domestic poultry industry and improved biosecurity; culling of wild birds is an impractical solution that would not prevent the spread of the virus; and wild bird imports, especially from affected areas, should be banned and complemented by a crack down on illegal trade.
Clearly the threat of Avian Flu is to be taken seriously. H5N1 is an especially virulent and contagious strain that has infected more than 100 people and caused the deaths of 61. All human cases to date have been transmitted from close and intense contact with poultry. Some species of wild birds are susceptible to this strain of the virus and there have been several instances of diseased wild birds. There have been no recorded instances of transmission from wild birds to humans. The current pattern of spread of the virus suggests that migratory birds may be implicated in some cases. To view BirdLife International's policy statement on Avian Flu, click here. To read the American Bird Conservancy's Position Statement, click here. For information on handling birds, guidelines prepared by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game can be viewed by clicking here.

10,000 Birding Trip Reports Online

26 October 2005 - A new section on trip reports has just been added to Bird Links to the World, a website managed by BSC's Senior Scientist Denis Lepage and hosted by Bird Studies Canada. Visitors can now search a fully indexed database of over 10,000 birding trip reports available on the Internet from all around the world. Birding trip reports are undoubtedly one of the most useful Internet tools available to traveling birders. The search options allow visitors to search for reports by region, language, keywords, and more. For many reports, the page also summarizes the number of species observed during the trip, the duration, and the time of year when the trip was made.
  For example, you can find out what reports mention the species Kirtland's Warbler in Michigan (21 reports) or on its wintering grounds in the Bahamas (3), the Plains-wanderer in Australia (16), the Gurney's Pitta in Thailand (48), or the Quetzal in Central America (207). You can also simply browse through the 40 reports from Jamaica, the 102 reports from Taiwan, or the reports from any of over 300 other geographical areas. The full reports are then accessible in just one click. You can also search for a popular birding site, such as Point Pelee (67 hits), Taman Negara (Malaysia, 50 hits) or Lamington National Park (Australia, 31 hits). To check out this exciting new website, click here.

Return to Top of Page

Un nouveau site Internet répertoriant plus de 10 000 rapport de voyage ornithologique à travers le monde

Une nouvelle section sur les rapports de voyage ornithologique vient d'être ajoutée au site Bird Links to the World, maintenu par Denis Lepage, chercheur sénior à ÉOC, et hébergé par Études d'Oiseaux Canada. Les visiteurs du site peuvent maintenant interroger une base de données entièrement indexée contenant plus de 10 000 rapports de voyage ornithologique à travers le monde. Les rapports de voyage sont sans conteste l'un des outils Internet les plus utiles aux ornithologues voyageurs. Les options de recherche permettent aux visiteurs de chercher des rapports selon la région, la langue du rapport, ou encore à l'aide de mots-clés. Pour de nombreux rapports, le site présente aussi des informations sur le nombre d'espèces observées, et sur la durée et la date du voyage.
  La majorité des rapports sont écrit en anglais, mais le visiteur pourra consulter tous les rapports écrits dans une langue donnée, tel que le français (156 rapports). En utilisant les noms anglais des espèces, on pourra par exemple trouver quels rapports mentionnent l'espèce Kirtland's Warbler (Paruline de Kirtland) au Michigan (21 rapports), ou dans son aire d'hivernage au Bahamas (3 rapports), le Plains-wanderer (Pédionome errant) en Australie (16), le Gurney's Pitta (Brève de Gurney) en Thailande (48) ou le Quetzal en Amérique centrale (207). On peut aussi tout simplement consulter les 40 rapports pour la Jamaïque, les 102 rapports pour Taiwan, ou les rapports pour n'importe laquelle des 300 régions géographiques. Les rapports complets peuvent ensuite être consultés à l'aide d'un seul clic. Il est finalement possible de chercher des informations sur un site d'observation populaire tel que Point Pelée (67 rapports), Taman Negara (Malaisie, 67 rapports) ou Lamington National Park (Australie, 31 rapports).

Return to Top of Page

Birds of North America Online

26 October 2005 - The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a nonprofit membership institution devoted to the study of birds, announces the launch of The Birds of North America Online (BNA Online), the "live" version of the landmark, 18-volume print series that details the biology and ecology of more than 700 species of our continent's breeding birds - The Birds of North America: Life Histories for the 21st Century (BNA). BNA Online is a powerful new research tool that is fully searchable with linked citations, digital images, and full video and sound. For the first time, users can search by species, topic or keyword; access up-to-date information and the latest scientific findings on North America's birds; view videos of diagnostic bird behaviours; and listen to the songs and calls of each species. It’s 18,000 pages of detailed information at your fingertips, 24/7. To see what this extraordinary database has to offer, visit the BNA website by clicking here.

Panama Bay of Hemispheric Importance for Birds

24 October 2005 - BSC staff member, Andrew Couturier, and Nature Canada (NC) staff member, Sarah Wren, recently attended meetings in Panama City to discuss a unified approach to bird conservation in the Americas and to provide input to a monitoring tool that is being developed for sites in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN). The monitoring tool is modeled after BirdLife International’s framework for monitoring Important Bird Areas (IBAs). BSC and NC, the Canadian co-partners in BirdLife International, jointly deliver the IBA program in Canada.
  The Upper Bay of Panama, already recognized as an IBA since 2003, was officially designated a WHSRN site of hemispheric importance last week in Panama City, with Canadian Wildlife Service Director General, Trevor Swerdfager, delivering the keynote address. Like the Fraser River Estuary IBA in British Columbia, the Upper Bay of Panama provides key stopover and wintering grounds for shorebirds migrating from Alaska to South America. Panama becomes the eighth country to join the network. For more information, click here.

 Return to Top of Page

 

Adopt a Bird for the Holidays

27 October 2005 - As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect gift for loved ones can be a challenge. Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is offering a unique idea for bird lovers in your midst. You can adopt an individual bird, banded at Long Point Bird Observatory, in support of BSC's bird research and conservation work through Project Recovery: each symbolic adoption of a unique, banded bird includes an adoption certificate featuring a colour photograph and detailed measurements of "your" bird; if your bird is recovered, we will contact you and let you know the recovery details; and, the adoption fee is fully receiptable.
  Your contribution directly supports Bird Studies Canada's bird science and conservation work. You can choose from 21 species in total. Orders can be made on BSC's website by clicking here, or by phone toll-free at 1-888-448-2473 ext. 202.
  Birds bring special joy to the holiday season, as they gather at feeders and brighten dreary winter days. Remembering them with a gift in support of bird conservation will brighten their future and warm the hearts of loved ones as the New Year begins.

BSC Well Represented at Ornithologists Meeting

27 October 2005 - The Society of Canadian Ornithologists held its annual meeting from 20-22 October in Halifax, NS. BSC co-sponsored the event, which was attended by seven BSC staff members: Gregor Beck, Becky Whittam, Karel Allard, Dawn Laing, Greg Campbell, Tasha Armenta, and Stephen Gullage. Becky chaired the Saturday morning symposium on Citizen Science. Karel, coordinator of the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas, presented at this symposium on the implementation and results of atlas projects, in anticipation of the Maritimes' second atlas project starting in 2006. Dawn, Bald Eagle Project Coordinator, gave a presentation on Destination Eagle and the use of the Eagle Tracker software program, and discussed interesting recent movements of transmitting eagles. Stephen, assistant coordinator of the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas, gave a presentation on his Master's research on forest birds. Tasha presented a poster on five years of survey results from the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey.

Return to Top of Page

Canadian Migration Monitoring Network Meets

Photo: Amy Wotton

25 October 2005 - The 5th biennial Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) meeting was held in Prince Edward County, Ontario on 14-16 October 2005. This meeting, organized and hosted by Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory and Bird Studies Canada, drew 32 participants from across Canada. Sixteen migration monitoring stations provided station updates. Other presentations highlighted collaborative projects involving CMMN stations including the use of radar and acoustic microphones to monitor migrating birds, DNA "barcoding" of birds, and the breaking of ground for a new Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation at Slave Lake in Alberta. More details will be announced and posted to the website in the next few weeks.

Bird Banders Receive Advanced Training

25 October 2005 - Bird Studies Canada staff, Audrey Heagy, recently helped organize an advanced workshop on passerine ageing, held in conjunction with the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network national meeting. Fifteen bird banders from across Canada participated in the two-day workshop, hosted by the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Ontario. The session was capably facilitated by two North American Banding Council certified Bander Trainers: Heidi den Haan of Delta Marsh Bird Observatory and David Okines of Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. Support for this workshop was provided by Environment Canada Ontario Region and the Canadian Bird Banding Office. For more information on bird banding and bander training, visit the website of the Canadian Bird Banding Office or the North American Banding Council.

Return to Top of Page

 

MMP Training and Ambassador Opportunities Available

27 October 2005 - BSC’s Marsh Monitoring Program, in conjunction with the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, is looking for outdoor adventurers interested in being trained as amphibian and/or bird monitors (no prior experience necessary) for wetland areas in the Ottawa and St. Lawrence River watersheds. The first training session will be held on 20 November 2005 at Cooper's Marsh, near Cornwall, ON. Anyone interested in attending should contact Jordan Kevan by phone at (613) 936-6620 ext. 224 or by e-mail at jkevan@riverinstitute.ca.
  Bird Studies Canada and the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences are also partnering to recruit Ambassadors to help promote the Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) in the Ottawa and St. Lawrence River watersheds. MMP Ambassadors are needed to help recruit local participants, assist in route selection, and provide mentoring, training, and support. To view the Ambassador job description, click here and to download an application, click here. For more information contact Jordan Kevan at (613) 936-6620 ext. 224, jkevan@riverinstitute.ca, or Kathy Jones at 1-888-448-2473 ext. 212, aqsurvey@bsc-eoc.org.

BSC to Attend 21^st Montreal Bird and Nature Fair

27 October 2005 - Bird Studies Canada will be participating again this year in the Montreal Bird and Nature Fair on 5-6 November 2005. The fair, held at Westmount High School (4350 Ste-Catherine Street West) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days, is organized by Bird Protection Québec (formerly the Province of Québec Society for the Protection of Birds). Exhibitors include artists, wood carvers, commercial vendors (of optics, books, birdfeeders, etc.), and nature and conservation organizations. The fair offers a great opportunity to learn more about birds and to meet other bird enthusiasts. The show includes live birds and a kid’s corner. Everyone in the Montréal area is invited to come to this free event. For more information, click here.

Tout comme l’an dernier, ÉOC participera à la Grande foire des oiseaux et de la nature de Montréal qui aura lieu les 5 et 6 novembre prochain. La foire est organisée par la Protection des oiseaux du Québec www.birdprotectionquebec.org (autrefois la Société québécoise de protection des oiseaux) et se tiendra à l’école secondaire Westmount (4350, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest) de 10h00 à 17h00 samedi et dimanche. Les exposants présents sont diversifiés : artistes, sculpteurs, commerçants au détail (jumelles, livres, mangeoires d’oiseaux, etc.) et organismes de conservation. La foire est un endroit idéal pour se renseigner sur les oiseaux et pour faire connaissance avec d’autres amants d’oiseaux et de nature. Des oiseaux en captivité seront sur les lieux et les jeunes enfants jouissent de leur propre coin de jeu. Tout le monde de la grande région de Montréal est invité à venir y faire un tour. L’entrée est libre.

Return to Top of Page

Social Influences on Tundra Swan Published

24 October 2005 - Dr. Shannon Badzinski, scientist with the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, recently published a study in the journal Waterbirds (28(3): 316-325, 2005) titled Social influences on Tundra Swan activities during migration. The study evaluated age-related differences in activities and feeding methods, potential short-term behavioural costs and benefits of prolonged parent-offspring association, and several predicted behavioural responses based on predation risk and aspects of Tundra Swan social structure. Data presented in this study showed that parents and juveniles displayed different behavioural patterns while foraging, which suggested that these two social groups may be partitioning food resources or possibly that parents may indirectly facilitate feeding activities of their young. Results also suggested that parents did not appear to incur short-term behavioural or energetic costs associated with parent-offspring association, but both parents and their young did likely benefit from higher social standing associated with family status or larger group size. Tundra Swans also generally showed few behavioural responses consistent with predictions based on theoretical relationships between predation risk and flock size. To read more about the staging ecology and social behaviour of Tundra Swans, click here and to learn about LPWWRF’s Tundra Swan Research Program, click here.

 Return to Top of Page

This email was sent by BirdStudiesCanada@bsc-eoc.org.  If you receive duplicates of this email, to unsubscribe, please contact us.