BC Coastal Waterbird Survey
Contributes to New Marine Planning Resource
25 March 2011
– A new resource designed to inform integrated marine planning and
management along the British Columbia coastline is now available, thanks
in part, to BSC's BC Coastal Waterbird Survey. The British Columbia
Marine Conservation Analysis (BCMCA) Marine Atlas and
Data Library is an online
resource of ecological and human-use maps, data, and metadata all
pertaining to the Canadian Pacific. The comprehensive, digital
collection holds more than 260 maps in over 20 different categories.
Currently, all the ecological content is available, but some human-use
pages are still under review and coming soon. The content is the result
of several years of assembling, collating, and reviewing data, and
engaging experts from a variety of backgrounds including governments,
First Nations, user groups, stakeholders, academia, non-governmental
organizations, and consultants.
The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey
dataset was one of several bird datasets used to map the distributions
of 74 marine bird features in 2km x 2km planning units. Individual
marine bird feature maps and accompanying text pages can be
viewed at high resolution, along with metadata, guidelines for
use and notes from reviewers. The BCMCA Marine Atlas and Data Library is
one of a number of products that BC Coastal Waterbird Survey data are
helping to develop. We extend a huge thank you
to the 500-plus volunteers who have contributed to the survey over its
12-year life, and we look forward to showing you more products that are
being generated using data from this valuable Citizen Science program.
BSC Hiring Species at Risk
Interns across Southwestern Ontario
25 March 2011
– BSC research projects have yielded invaluable data on bird populations
and their habitat requirements, and in turn, have increased our
understanding of the status and management of Species at Risk. This
upcoming spring and summer, BSC staff will be conducting population
assessments and investigating habitat requirements of several Species at
Risk. BSC is seeking several interns to assist in research projects on
Chimney Swift, Whip-poor-will, and Louisiana Waterthrush, as well as the
unlisted, but declining Bank Swallow. These positions are short-term
contracts and the work is based out of several locations across southern
Ontario. Depending on the project, intern responsibilities may include
conducting biological fieldwork, data management and entry, volunteer
training, outreach activities, and assistance in report preparation.
Eligible candidates must have a
valid driver's license (minimum G2), the ability to travel, and must be
a post-secondary student intending on returning to school in the fall.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by 4:30 p.m. on April 15,
2011. A full job description is
available here.
Québec : Atlasseurs
recherchés
25 Mars 2011
– l’Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs du Québec est à la recherche
d’observateurs d’oiseaux expérimentés et motivés pour travailler à la
collecte de données. Le travail consistera à effectuer des inventaires
ornithologiques (incluant des points d’écoute) dans des parcelles
prioritaires du Québec méridional (au sud du 50°30’ de latitude Nord).
Les inventaires pourront se dérouler dans diverses régions, mais se
tiendront surtout en région éloignée, spécialement en forêt boréale. Les
candidats devront être en mesure d’identifier les oiseaux du Québec à la
vue et à partir de leurs chants. La date limite pour poser sa
candidature et le 8 avril. Communiquez avec les bureaux de l’atlas pour
de plus amples informations au
atlas@quebecoiseaux.org.
Quebec: Atlas
Crew Members
Needed
25 March 2011
– The Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas is currently seeking experienced,
highly motivated birdwatchers to join its paid field crews. The work
will consist of conducting bird surveys (including point counts) in
priority squares in southern Quebec (south of 50° 30' N). Although the
surveys will be conducted in various locations across the province, most
will be concentrated in remote regions, particularly within the boreal
forest. Candidates must be able to identify the nesting birds of Quebec
visually and by ear. The application deadline is April 8, 2011. For
further information, please contact the atlas office at
atlas@quebecoiseaux.org.
Ontario Region – New
Reports Available Online
25 March 2011
– Bird Studies Canada is pleased to announce three new documents
available online for BSC members, staff, and the interested public. The
Southern Ontario Bald Eagle Monitoring Program report is
available here, the 2011 Ontario
Nocturnal Owl Survey Newsletter by
selecting this
link and the 2011 Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP)
newsletter by
visiting this page.
BSC would like to extend special thanks to the volunteers and partners
who provided the data and assistance for these programs.
The Southern Ontario Bald Eagle
Monitoring Program is a partnership between the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources, Environment Canada, BSC, and the Canadian Cooperative
Wildlife Health Centre. Thanks to Environment Canada and the Government
of Ontario for providing financial support. Thanks also to the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources – Wildlife Assessment Program for their
longstanding support for the Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey. The Great
Lakes Marsh Monitoring program is a partnership between BSC and
Environment Canada with core program support from the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A Fond Farewell and a Welcome
Ryan Archer
(left), Doug Tozer (right)
25 March 2011
– After six years of hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication to the Marsh
Monitoring Program, Ryan Archer, Aquatic Survey Programs Coordinator,
has moved on to new career challenges. We wish Ryan the best of luck and
thank him for his long-term support of Bird Studies Canada.
At the same time we welcome Dr.
Doug Tozer to our office. Doug, a long-term member of the BSC family,
has accepted the position of Aquatic Survey Programs Coordinator and
will take over Ryan’s important role in mid-March 2011.
LPW Graduate Lindsay Ware
Publishes Scaup Paper
25 March 2011
–The combined continental population of Greater and Lesser
scaup has declined substantially since the
mid-1980s. One possible explanation for the decline is that birds are
acquiring elevated levels of contaminants during winter which
subsequently impacts their health, reproduction, or survival. It is
believed that scaup are acquiring excess selenium burdens by feeding on
two species of invasive filter-feeding mussels, the zebra
and quagga mussel.
To test this, we collected blood and liver samples from Greater Scaup in
Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario, and tested
them for several contaminants, including selenium.
We also tested zebra and quagga
mussels for selenium
concentration. Each bird was examined for physiological abnormalities,
oxidative stress, and body condition. While all of the Greater Scaup
contained very high selenium burdens, these
burdens do not appear to be related to decreased body condition or other
aspects of health. Zebra and
quagga mussels were also found to have high
selenium burdens, containing about three times
the amount of selenium normally considered
safe for wildlife consumption. This research suggests that the body
condition and general health of Greater Scaup wintering on Lake Ontario
are not being affected by the consistently high
selenium concentrations found in this species. It is possible
that selenium is affecting scaup in ways not
yet explored. Conversely, scaup could have a high tolerance to
selenium toxicity and are possibly not
exhibiting any negative effects.
Lindsay Ware, a Long Point
Waterfowl graduate student, has published a paper on the above research
results. It is available upon request from
tbarney@bsc-eoc.org.
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