Osprey on the Move – Currently
in Cuba!
08 April 2011
– Back in May 2010, Bird Studies Canada biologists and Friends of the
Osprey fitted two female Ospreys with satellite-tracking backpacks to
determine migration routes and wintering grounds of Osprey breeding in
Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region. By early September, both birds quickly
headed south to Florida, and then crossed the Caribbean via Cuba, Haiti,
and the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately at this point, one of the
transmitters failed for unknown reasons; no further data was received
for one of the birds. However, the other bird continued on through
Colombia and Brazil, finally stopping to spend the entire winter on the
Araguaia River near São Félix do Araguaia in central Brazil. In early
March, the bird headed north again, travelling approximately the same
migratory path it took in the fall. Currently in Cuba, the bird will
likely cross over to Florida soon. You can track this bird’s migration
back to Ontario by visiting the
Osprey Tracker. To learn more about the project visit the
BSC website.
Ontario SwiftWatch
Workshop in Southern Ontario
08 April 2011
– Bird Studies Canada and the Otter Valley Naturalists will be holding
an information session and training workshop on Chimney Swifts and the
Ontario SwiftWatch Program on Monday April 11th from 6:30 until 8:00
p.m. at the Port Burwell Public School, 30 Strachan Street, Port
Burwell, Ontario. We will meet in the parking lot and then take a short
walk through the neighborhood looking for Chimney Swifts.
For more information, please
contact Kathy Jones, BSC Volunteer Coordinator, 1-888-448-2473 extension
124,
volunteer@birdscanada.org. To learn more about Chimney Swifts and
the research BSC is undertaking
select
this link.
This project was undertaken with
the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the
Department of Environment; the Government of Ontario, and TD Friends of
the Environment Fund. A special thanks to the Otter Valley Naturalists
Club for their support and participation.
BC Breeding Bird Atlas
Funding Announcements
08 April 2011
– We are delighted to confirm a series of very important funding
commitments to the BC Breeding Bird Atlas for 2011-12, including a
critical recommitment from the BC Government's Ministry of Environment,
increased contributions from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
and the BC Hydro – Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation
Program, and continued contributions from the Baillie Fund. These
sources will help fund individuals and teams to conduct a sweep of
surveys to begin filling the large gaps in coverage in northern and
central regions, and support volunteer travel and access to priority
remote and higher elevation areas. On behalf of the Atlas Steering
Committee, and everyone involved in this large partnership, we extend a
special thank you to all of our funders, supporters and in-kind
contributors, as we go into year four of the field phase of this
project, and tackle the challenges of remote atlassing in the least
accessible regions of British Columbia.
BC Program Opportunities
08 April 2011
– Bird Studies Canada’s BC Program is seeking volunteer individuals and
teams of two for periods of one to four days, and possibly up to a week,
to conduct point counts and complete breeding evidence surveys in
wilderness squares and high elevation habitats that are only accessible
by floatplane and helicopter – this access is thanks to innovative new
aerial atlassing partnerships with floatplane owners and helicopter
operators. The unique opportunity would mean visiting remote places that
have seldom or never been visited by birders before and will help fill
gaps to ensure even coverage of the province. We are also seeking
skilled ornithologists/field technicians who can identify most or all
western birds by ear and eye, to conduct point-count and breeding
evidence surveys between May 28th and July 31st. We are looking for
teams of two for periods of up to two months, and individuals for
shorter periods to work in the north-west, north-east, Coast Range and
Columbia Basin regions in particular. The number of positions will
depend on funding. For the application and
more information visit the
BSC
website.
We are also seeking a research
assistant with strong bird identification skills for the period of early
May to the end of July, to provide field support to a post-doctoral
research study into hybrid zones as markers of long-term change, and
conduct point count and breeding evidence surveys for the BC Breeding
Bird Atlas, along three transect lines (Bella Bella to Williams Lake,
Fort St. James to Chetwynd, and Kamloops to Lethbridge, AB). The
application and more information may be
found here.
Pioneering Efforts of BC
Breeding Bird Atlas Recognized
by The Explorer's Club
08 April 2011
– Rob Butler and Wayne Sawchuk have been awarded the honour of carrying
The Explorers Club flag on a unique trip to Atlas the wilderness
Muskwa-Kechika region of northern British Columbia. The Explorers Club
flag represents an impressive history of courage and accomplishment and
has been carried on hundreds of expeditions by Club members since 1918.
To carry the Club flag is an honor and a privilege. It has flown at both
poles, from the highest peaks of the greatest mountain ranges, traveled
to the depths of the ocean, to the lunar surface, and outer space. A
flag expedition must further the cause of exploration and field science.
There are 202 numbered flags, each with its own history. A select
handful of these retired flags are framed and displayed at headquarters
in New York City, including the flags carried by Roy Chapman Andrews,
Bob Bartlett, Thor Heyerdahl, Naomi Uemora, and the miniature flag
carried by the astronauts onboard Apollo 11. The flag will be unfurled
in a remote scenic location in the Muskwa-Kechika with lots of fanfare.
The trip will become a permanent record of
The Explorers Club
headquarters in New York. The Explorers Club promotes the scientific
exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and
education in the physical, natural, and
biological sciences.
BSC Hosts Workshops for
Ontario Species at Risk Stewardship Practitioners
Photo: BSC
08 April 2011
– In March 2011, BSC Ontario staff organized two workshops that brought
together more than 30 individuals and groups involved in Species at Risk
stewardship activities in southeastern Ontario. The purpose of these
meetings was to explore potential BSC
resources and services that could help local organizations engage in
stewardship activities to benefit at risk forest and shrubland birds.
Workshop participants reported that the one-day workshops were a good
forum for information sharing and networking. BSC will use the input
received at these events to develop an outreach plan for increased
involvement in bird conservation efforts in southeastern Ontario. This
project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of
Canada provided through the Department of the Environment. For more
information contact Audrey Heagy,
aheagy@birdscanada.org.
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