19 March 2004
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$40,000 Awarded to BSC’s Research on Wetlands Health

15 March 2004 - Bird Studies Canada (BSC) was recently awarded a $40,000 CDN grant from the Great Lakes Commission to support continued research in BSC's efforts to develop marshbird and anuran (frogs and toads) community Indices of Biotic Integrity for gauging Great Lakes coastal wetlands health. This research is being done in coordination with several other research partners of the Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Consortium. Seed funding for this grant was provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office. Results of this research will be presented at the upcoming State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference, and will be documented in an extensive technical report as well as in the peer-reviewed literature.

BirdLife International Adopts Tough New Strategy

13 March 2004 - On the final day of the BirdLife International world conference, delegates adopted a tough new strategy committing the organization to improve the status of the world’s 10,000 bird species and their habitats by 2015. Bird populations will be the indicators of whether progress is being made in achieving these goals. In a final rallying call to the 350 delegates, BirdLife Director, Dr. Michael Rands, said, "In ten years time, I hope the world can look back at the 2004 BirdLife global conference in Durban and see it as a turning point in the way people around the world treat biodiversity and place local communities at the heart of future conservation efforts." Click here to link to BirdLife International’s media release.

Bird Studies Canada’s Michael Bradstreet 
Receives International Recognition

Photo: Chris Harbard/Swarowski Birding

11 March 2004 - BirdLife International has presented a number of awards that recognize outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation, including one to Bird Studies Canada’s Michael Bradstreet. The 12 Conservation Achievement Awards were awarded at a ceremony that took place at BirdLife’s World Conference in Durban, South Africa, on 9 March. Since 1989, Michael Bradstreet has been the Executive Director of Long Point Bird Observatory and now Bird Studies Canada. Under his leadership the Observatory has been transformed into a Canada-wide bird research and conservation organization. Bird Studies Canada has been actively involved in the Important Bird Areas work of the BirdLife Partnership. Click here to read about the award recipients.

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LPWWRF’s Research Director Presents at DU Williamsport Convention

8 March 2004 - Dr. Scott Petrie, Research Director of BSC's Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund (LPWWRF), gave a presentation on Great Lakes waterfowl ecology and management at the Pennsylvania State Ducks Unlimited Convention in Williamsport, PA, on 6 March. Click here to link to information about the Fund and it’s work.

State of the World's Birds Released at International Conference

Durban, South Africa - 8 March 2004  - 400 species are still waiting for conservation action, three years after BirdLife International identified measures for all the world's threatened birds. This is just one of the findings published today in State of the World's Birds, a report which brings together for the first time the sum of existing research about the status and distribution of birds, current conservation actions and priorities, and what birds tell us about the health of the environment and wider biodiversity. State of the World's Birds also describes how 24 % of globally threatened birds (280 species) have begun to benefit from actions identified by BirdLife International and implemented with the help of national governments, communities, and national and local NGOs. In 4 % of species, the benefit has already been judged 'significant', emphasising that timely action based on good science can reverse the slide to extinction. Click here to link to the full media release. 

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Registrations Now Being Accepted for the 2004 Baillie Birdathon!

18 March 2004 - More than 7,500 people from across Canada (and from several countries around the world) participate in and/or sponsor Birdathon in May of every year. During a 24-hour period in May, they attempt to find as many bird species as they can, sponsored at a flat rate, or on a per-species basis. More than $194,000 was raised this way in 2003. Birders can designate a favourite conservation organization to receive a portion of the funds they raise. Bird observatories can also be designated as recipients of fund raising. So if you’d like to have a lot of fun and help birds and nature at the same time? Do a Birdathon this May! It’s challenging, exhilarating, and - beware - addictive! Birdathoners just can’t help coming back for more, year after year! Click here to reach the registration form. 

Visit Canadian Lakes Loon Survey at the Cottage Life Show

16 March 2004 - Mark your calendar to visit Bird Studies Canada's Canadian Lakes Loon Survey (CLLS) display at The Cottage Life Show, 26 - 28 March 2004. Look for the CLLS booth, as part of the "Call of the Loon" exhibit which will include displays from the Canadian Museum of Nature. The exhibit is at the north end of Hall 2, at the corners of Aisles 700 and 800, at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Road (at Derry Road), Toronto. Hope to see you there.

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University of Western Ontario Cancels Ornithology 
from its Curriculum for 2004/05

16 March 2004 - As a group, birds are among the most studied organisms in scientific research. Some of that is about to change at The University of Western Ontario located in London, ON, which has decided to cancel its only Ornithology course, The Adaptations and Ecology of Birds, for the 2004/2005 academic year. The reason for cancelling this course remains unclear, but is surprising given that the course reached maximum enrolment this year (62 students) and students were placed on a waiting list to enrol. Bird Studies Canada's Boreal Bird Scientist, Dr. J. Ryan Zimmerling, himself a graduate of The University of Western Ontario, has taught this course for three years and is puzzled by the universities decision. Biology students at the university are concerned, and have begun signing petitions and writing letters to the Dean of Science, and to local newspapers to have the ornithology course reinstated into the curriculum. In past decades, the University of Western Ontario has produced some of the most-skilled and respected ornithologists in Canada.

Marsh Bird Habitat Preferences to be Documented

16 March 2004 - Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service - Ontario Region, Environmental Conservation Branch has awarded Bird Studies Canada's Marsh Monitoring Program with $10,000. These funds will support the production of a document that provides information about Marsh Bird Habitat preferences and how landowners and marsh managers can improve marsh habitat to conserve a broad suite of marsh dependent bird species. This project is a joint effort between Bird Studies Canada (BSC), Environment Canada, and Wildlife Habitat Canada, with significant support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office. Look forward to visiting BSC's online library to download a copy of this publication later this summer.

Science Horizons Grant Awarded to Marsh Monitoring Program

15 March 2004 - Bird Studies Canada's Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) has been granted $12,000 through Environment Canada's Science Horizons program to support a Marsh Monitoring Program Biologist for a one-year term. Among other MMP program related tasks, the successful candidate will work with the Aquatic Surveys Scientist and other staff to complete an assessment of biological integrity of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands using avian and anuran community data derived from the Marsh Monitoring Program. Click here to learn more about MMP.

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Partners in Flight Newsletter Available

12 March 2004 - Click here to read the second Partners in Flight Ontario (PIFO) newsletter (2.9 Mb). Partners In Flight activities within Ontario fit into broader continental wide initiatives that comprise the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI). As part of NABCI, Partners In Flight supports conservation of migratory landbirds throughout their yearly ranges.

Atlantic Canada Bird Experts Gather to Advise BSC on Atlantic Program

11 March 2004 - Representatives of Bird Studies Canada's (BSC’S) Atlantic Canada Management Committee, the Board of Directors, and the National Scientific Advisory Council (NSAC) met with BSC regional staff in Sackville, NB, on 23 February. Participants included Dianne Griffin, Chair of the BSC Board and representative of the PE Dept. of Environment and Energy, Phil Taylor, representative of NSAC and Acadia University, Bill Montevecchi, representative of NSAC and Memorial University of Newfoundland, Richard Elliot, representative of NSAC and Canadian Wildlife Service, Dan Busby representative of Canadian Wildlife Service, Doug Bliss of the Canadian Wildlife Service, and Ramsey Hart and Becky Whittam from BSC. Honourable mention for the youngest and cutest participant goes to Evelyn, Becky's 9-month old daughter who was also present. The participants provided valuable guidance and input on the full range of BSC-Atlantic Programs. One of the recommendations was for BSC to hold a bi-annual public meeting that would help to further develop BSC's regional presence while providing an opportunity for staff, members, volunteers, and partner organizations to meet and exchange ideas about the Atlantic program. To read more about BSC’s Atlantic Canada programs, click here.

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Marsh Monitoring Program Launches in Québec

11 March 2004 - Bird Studies Canada is proud to announce the launch of the Marsh Monitoring Program in Québec. Volunteers who are interested can monitor a marsh of their choice or work with the coordinator to find a marsh to monitor. Surveys of birds are done during 2 evenings, 10 days apart at minimum, between 27 May and 12 July. For more information, visit the web page (in French only) or read about the program in the Spring 2004 issue of Québec Oiseaux. If you have any questions or would like to become involved, please contact the coordinator, Catherine Poussart by telephone at (418) 649-6062 or by e-mail at catherine.poussart@ec.gc.ca.

Le Programme de surveillance des marais est maintenant au Québec

11 mars 2004- Études d'Oiseaux Canada est fier d'annoncer le lancement du Programme de surveillance des marais au Québec. Les personnes intéressées peuvent conduire les inventaires dans un marais de leur choix ou demander à la coordonnatrice de leur en assigner un. Les inventaires d'oiseaux sont effectués lors de 2 soirées entre le 27 mai et le 12 juillet. Un intervalle d'au moins dix jours est requis entre les 2 inventaires. Pour plus d'information, consultez le lien suivant ou lisez à propos du programme dans l'édition du printemps 2004 du magazine QuébecOiseaux. Si vous avez des questions ou si vous aimeriez vous inscrire, contactez la coordonnatrice Catherine Poussart par téléphone au (418) 649-6062 ou par courriel à catherine.poussart@ec.gc.ca.

Atlantic Owl Surveys Start this Month

11 March 2004 - Owl surveyors in Atlantic Canada will be receiving their volunteer kits this week in preparation for Bird Studies Canada’s (BSC’s) annual Atlantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey. Kits include training and broadcast cds, data sheets, and, new this year, a Boreal Owl identification form. Approximately 180 survey routes are run every year in Atlantic Canada by dedicated Citizen Scientists in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. This year will be the fourth year for the survey in PEI and New Brunswick and the third year for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. The survey is supported by the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund, the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, The PEI Department of Environment and Energy and Stora Enso. For more information about the survey contact BSC's Atlantic Canada Program Coordinator, Ramsey Hart - ramsey.hart@ec.gc.ca, (506) 364-5047.

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