Report
on the State of Ontario's Migratory Landbirds Released
26
November 2004 - A new report on the State of Ontario's
Migratory Landbirds is now available on Bird Studies Canada’s web
site. This 20-page, full-colour report looks at why and how we monitor
migratory landbirds in Ontario, and provides a concise summary of the
current state of those breeding here. Information on the links between
observed trends and changing environmental conditions and species
conservation needs is also presented.
The
report highlights various species and groups of migratory landbirds in
Ontario that are in particular trouble. Aerial foraging insectivores,
such as swallows and Chimney Swifts, have experienced widespread
declines over the past two decades. Population trends for many grassland
birds show a significant long-term decline. Also, 7 of 10 landbirds
whose Ontario breeding range is restricted to southern Ontario are now
designated as species at risk. The good news is that migratory landbirds
breeding in forest, shrubland, wetland, and diverse habitat types show a
mix of increasing and decreasing population trends.
The
cause of simultaneous declines in widepread populations of diverse
aerial foraging species is a mystery. Climate change and changes in the
availability of insect prey are possible culprits. Declines in grassland
birds in Ontario are likely linked to loss of breeding habitat, as
pastures and hayfields in southern Ontario are converted to cropland or
urban land uses. The high number of species at risk in southern Ontario
is a reflection of the lack of intact natural habitats and the stress
placed on the environment by the millions of humans that also live in
this biologically-diverse but intensively-developed landscape. To view
the full report, click
here.
Marsh
Monitoring in Québec to be Presented at EMAN Conference
25
November 2004 - The 10th National Science meeting of the
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) will be held in
Québec City from 1-4 December. In the 2 December session, Monitoring
and Evaluating Sustainability in Communities, Cities, and Watersheds,
Bird Studies Canada’s Catherine Poussart will present results from the
first year of the Marsh Monitoring Program in Québec. This conference
is attended by numerous non-government groups along with government
agencies and provides an excellent opportunity for participants to
broaden their cooperative activities. To access full details of the
conference, including the agenda, click
here.
Les 10e journées scientifiques
nationales du Réseau d'évaluation et de surveillance écologiques (RESE)
se tiendront à Québec du 1er au 4 décembre. Lors de la session du 2
décembre « Surveiller et évaluer la durabilité dans les
collectivités, les villes et les bassins hydrographiques », Catherine
Poussart présentera les résultats de la première année du programme
de surveillance des marais au Québec. Plusieurs groupes communautaires
et agences gouvernementales participent à ces journées scientifiques,
ce qui permet aux participants d'élargir leur réseau de contacts. Pour
plus d'information, incluant l'horaire des conférences, appuyez
ici.
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Fundraising
Efforts Garner More Money for Bald Eagles
24
November 2004 - Two more funders have stepped on board with
the Southern Ontario Bald Eagle Monitoring Program for 2005, the Shell
Environment Fund and the Essex south Chapter of TD-Friends of the
Environment Fund (TD-FOEF). Shell has agreed to fund $5000 towards
deploying a satellite transmitter in southern Ontario, and TD-FOEF Essex
has granted $2000 to support monitoring in the southwest. To learn more
about Bald Eagles and the whereabouts of our two satellite tagged birds,
Olivia and Pamela, please visit our Bald Eagle web page by clicking
here. If you have any questions about Bald Eagles or the
program, please contact Dawn Laing (dlaing@bsc-eoc.org).
Aerial
Waterfowl Surveys Receive Boost from
Kenneth M. Molson Foundation
23
November 2004 - The Long Point Waterfowl and Wetland Research
Fund (LPWWRF) is pleased to announce funding support of $15,000 from the
Kenneth M. Molson Foundation. These funds will be used to conduct aerial
surveys of waterfowl on the lower Great lakes. For more information
about LPWWRF’s aerial surveys, click
here.
Dead
Eagle Recovered in Southern Ontario
10
November 2004 - It was the early morning discovery by a
Chatham County farmer that got Jason Ritchie of the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources out into the field to investigate what the farmer thought to be a dead turkey vulture. Upon arrival, Mr. Ritchie
noted that this was not your normal 'dead bird' investigation. The bird
in question happened to be a banded mature Bald Eagle. Once in hand, Mr.
Ritchie contacted Bird Studies Canada (BSC) and reported the band
numbers to Bald Eagle Program Coordinator, Dawn Laing. Through BSC
banding records, we learned that this mature eagle was originally banded
in the Long Point Bay area as a nestling, along with one of its
siblings, in June 1992. Since 1992, no band reports have been received
on this bird, leaving the 12 years between fledging and death a complete
mystery. The carcass has been sent to University of Guelph and the cause
of death is not yet known.
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