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4 April 2008 
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How Bird-Friendly is Your Grocery List? 

30 March 2008 – In her recent article “Did Your Shopping List Kill a Songbird?”, York University biology professor Bridget Stutchbury encourages consumers to think twice about the foods we buy. Some produce imported from Latin America may have been grown using highly toxic agricultural chemicals. In some instances, pesticides are poisoning songbirds on their southern wintering grounds. Dr. Stutchbury asks us to protect ourselves, our songbirds, and the environment by avoiding certain out-of-season fruits and vegetables, and choosing organic products (especially when buying coffee and bananas). Visit the New York Times website to read the full article.
   Are you in the market for a conscientious Canadian coffee supplier? Look no further than the Creemore Coffee Company.  Their shade-grown, fair trade coffees and hot chocolates are certified organic by Canadian certifying agencies. And to top it off, Creemore Coffee donates a portion of each sale of their shade-grown products to Bird Studies Canada!

New Bird Discovered in Indonesia

14 March 2008 – An article in the most recent issue of The Wilson Journal of Ornithology (Volume 120, Issue 1) announces a new bird species from the Togian Islands of Indonesia. The Togian White-eye Zosterops somadikartai) shares several characteristics with its closest relative, the Black-Crowned White-eye; both are small, green birds, but unlike its cousin, the eye-ring of the Togian White-eye is black instead of white. Its distinct song also helped researchers to distinguish it from its relatives.
   The Togian White-eye was observed in the field from 1997 to 2003, and has only been seen near the coasts of three small islands in central Sulawesi. The bird is believed to be endangered. Select this link to read the abstract of the article.

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SK Turkey Vulture Study Featured on Project X

Photo: Ron Ridout

3 April 2008 – Since 2004, Dr. Stuart Houston of Saskatoon and colleagues at the University of Saskatchewan have been collaborating with research partners in the U.S. on a unique Turkey Vulture tracking program. Using wing tags and satellite transmitters, the researchers are gaining insight into the breeding behaviours and migratory movements of these fascinating raptors. This week, Dr. Houston and his team appeared on the CBC TV program Project X. The April 3 episode, entitled “What’s to Eat,” included a segment that shows Dr. Houston and crew tagging Turkey Vultures in Saskatchewan. Visit the Project X website to view the episode online.

New Migration Research Book Released

31 March 2008 – Tracking Animal Migration with Stable Isotopes provides an overview of the current knowledge of stable isotopes in migration research questions. Edited by Keith Hobson and Leonard Wassenaar, two Environment Canada researchers who are world authorities on this subject, the book offers a practical guide to the application of isotopic methods for tracking. Select this link to learn more about the publication or to order your copy.
    The Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) has been very active in contributing to the understanding of how the analysis of the atomic chemistry of feathers can help researchers narrow down the breeding origins of migratory songbirds. In 2007, the CMMN provided over 18,000 feather samples for a large study now underway, made possible by support from the U.S. Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, Environment Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and 26 migration monitoring stations across Canada.

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Visit BSC’s Booth at the Toronto Green Living Show, April 25-27

4 April 2008 – Are you interested in nature, conservation, environmental issues, and Earth-friendly tips and products? Will you be in the Toronto area later this month? Please consider attending Toronto’s second annual consumer show dedicated to all things green. The Green Living Show will take place April 25-27 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. Select this link for hours and other details.
   In addition to many special talks and activities, the show will also feature the Art of Nature exhibit and sale. Please visit the Art of Nature website to preview the art and make an advance bid. Buy art and make a difference at the same time! Last year’s silent and live art auctions raised more than $100,000 for Canadian ENGOs, including Bird Studies Canada.
   Select this link to download and print your 2 for 1 admission coupon offered exclusively to BSC members. We hope to see you there! 

Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas Update

April 2008 – Spring is here and early atlassing for 2008 has begun for the Maritimes Atlas, with breeding activity being reported for Great-Horned and Barred Owls, and Bald Eagles. Select this link to download the Spring 2008 newsletter.
   Online data entry for the 2007 breeding season closed on February 29, 2008. Andrew Couturier recently finished updating the online species distribution and effort maps. Thus far, Maritimes Atlassers have spent over 18,000 hours surveying for breeding birds in 1253 squares.
   As well, staff have added a “Latest News” section to the Atlas website, to keep atlassers informed about what’s going on with the Atlas, which species have already started breeding, job opportunities, and funding support for Atlassers. If you don’t have the Maritimes Atlas website in your “favourites” already, now would be a good time to add it to the list.

BSC Seeks Project Coordinator and Field Assistants in NS

1 April 2008 – Bird Studies Canada (Atlantic Region) is seeking a Project Coordinator and 1-2 Field Assistants for a Tern Foraging Study to take place from May 1-August 29, 2008 in Goldboro, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.
   The Project Coordinator will be in charge of planning, implementing, and reporting on a project to assess the potential impacts of several development projects on terns, especially the Endangered Roseate Tern. The study has been designed to monitor tern foraging throughout the tern breeding season to establish baseline conditions in advance of development, and to contribute to understanding the temporal and spatial use of habitat by terns in the area. Under the direction of the Project Coordinator, Field Assistants will conduct observations of tern foraging behaviour on land and by boat for three to four months. Field assistants may also be involved in project planning and data entry before and after the field season.
   For more information on these positions and other opportunities with BSC, please visit our Job Opportunities web page.

Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Monitoring Plan Released

31 March 2008 – Since 2000, BSC staff have participated in a consortium of scientists and policy-makers from over 50 U.S. and Canadian government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and other conservation partners to develop a framework for coordinated long-term monitoring of Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Great Lakes National Program Office supported this consortium of experts to pilot and draft standardized monitoring protocols for several different biological indicators of wetland condition, coordinate centralized data management, and plan Great Lakes basin-wide implementation of the monitoring programs.
   The product of this consortium is The Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Monitoring Plan, which was recently released by the Great Lakes Commission. Within the plan, BSC staff contributed to chapters describing marsh bird and amphibian community indicators of wetland condition, and partnerships for the implementation of coordinated coastal wetland monitoring. BSC’s Marsh Monitoring Program was also identified as the program by which marsh bird and amphibian community status and long-term trends will be tracked. This document will be of great value to agencies planning to incorporate coastal wetland monitoring into their overall biological monitoring strategy. Visit the Great Lakes Commission website to view the report.

Farewell, Fergus

Photo: Martin Oomens

31 March 2008 – This week we bid a fond farewell to Fergus Nicoll, who has resigned from BSC to accept a position in the Environmental Sciences Division of Golder Associates. Fergus has been an integral, practical component of many of our field research endeavours, and from 2002-06 he was the heart of several BSC boreal forest projects. In 2007 Fergus helped ‘man the helm’ at LPBO as the Assistant Landbird Programs Coordinator. Fergus’s pragmatic and astute nature will surely be missed by everyone who had the opportunity to work with him here at BSC. Good luck Fergus with your new beginnings in Ottawa.

BC Breeding Bird Atlas News

26 March 2008 – A standing-room-only crowd attended the launch in Tsawwassen of the BC Breeding Bird Atlas on March 15. Some of BC’s top birders, our supporters, partners, and friends joined in an evening of talks, giveaways, and fun. The BC Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service announced their support for the project. During the weekend, Regional Coordinators from around the province gathered to learn the on-line tools for atlassers and to share experiences. The Coordination Office gratefully acknowledges the widespread support from the volunteer birders and Regional Coordinators, our supporters, partners, steering and technical committees, and individuals who have given their time to the Atlas Project. Visit the BC Breeding Bird Atlas website for more news about the project.

Remembering Gareth Akerman

Photo: G. Akerman

14 March 2008 – It is with sadness that we report the death of former BSC employee Gareth Akerman. Gareth, along with three other individuals, died in a plane crash near West Palm Beach, Florida on March 13, 2008. Gareth was on a 6-month contract with Florida Atlantic University, conducting aerial surveys of wading bird colonies in the Lake Okeechobee area.
   Gareth worked for BSC in the summer of 2007, surveying for breeding birds in some of the more remote regions of northern New Brunswick. Gareth recently completed his Master’s research on the role of riparian forest and riparian buffer strips in avian conservation in the Acadian forest. Gareth also worked with the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation on the Roseate Tern Recovery Project in NS, and volunteered for several other conservation initiatives. In addition, he was a world traveler who taught English in Guatemala and planted trees in western Canada.
   Gareth had a real knack for finding Scarlet Tanagers, picking the perfect driving tune, and making others laugh. He was also an incredible field researcher, a dedicated conservationist, and a valued friend. He is greatly missed by all who knew him.

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