Archives

16 April 2004 
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On Assignment in Jordan

16 April 2004 - Andrew Couturier, Bird Studies Canada’s (BSC’s) GIS Scientist, is going on assignment to Jordan on 18 April. Andrew and Lynda Kosalle, BSC Financial Comtroller, have been selected to participate in "Building on Experience," a 4-module program which is an introduction to business, human resources, financial planning, income generation, advocacy, and communication skills, and is co-ordinated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (BirdLife in the UK) on behalf of the BirdLife Partnership. In this module, Andrew will be participating in sessions concerning project management and fundraising. Click here to learn more about "Building on Experience," and watch Latest News in May for a report on his experiences.

 

 

New Action Plans for Seabirds

14 April 2004, BirdLife International - Seabirds across the Southern Ocean are set to benefit from new conservation plans. New Zealand and the Falkland Islands have each adopted new National Plans of Action for Seabirds (NPOAs). In the Falkland Islands the long-term survival of many seabirds (including the Black-browed Albatross) has been boosted by the Falklands Government's adoption of it’s NPOA for Seabirds. The plan was drafted by Falklands Conservation (BirdLife in the Falklands) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (BirdLife in the UK), under the guidelines of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In New Zealand the BirdLife representative, Forest and Bird, has broadly welcomed the release of the New Zealand plan, which will apply to all seabirds affected by commercial and non-commercial fishing methods. However, the organization has raised concerns that the plan's emphasis on voluntary mitigation methods is likely to mean that many thousands of albatrosses and petrels will still be needlessly killed each year by New Zealand fisheries. Click here to read the complete media release. 

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Shannon Badzinski Receives Prestigious Fellowship

16 April 2004 - Dr. Shannon Badzinski of Bird Studies Canada has been selected as the 2003 recipient of the John W. Arnold Fellowship. This award is presented to the most meritous student receiving a M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in Zoology from the University of Western Ontario during the academic year and is granted based on the merit of the recipient's thesis and oral defense. This Fellowship typically is presented to a student whose research is in the area of ornithology or entomology. Shannon successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation, entitled Influence of Tundra Swans on Aquatic Vegetation and Staging Waterfowl at Long Point, Ontario, in April 2003. During the past six months, Shannon has been BSC's Waterbird Scientist, and as of 1 April 2004 is Research Scientist for the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetland Research Fund (LPWWRF). Click here to read more about LPWWRF and its work. 

 

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Bald Eagles Back on Nests Throughout Southern Ontario

12 April 2004 - Throughout southern Ontario, Bald Eagles have returned to nesting territories and are diligently incubating their eggs. Bald Eagles usually lay two eggs, but in recent years, there have been a higher than average number of triplets in the population. Let's hope that this trend continues this year. If you know of a Bald Eagle nest site location in Ontario, please contact Debbie Badzinski, dbadzinski@bsc-eoc.org or Susan Debreceni, sdebreceni@bsc-eoc.org. Click here for more information on the Southern Ontario Bald Eagle Monitoring Program. 

Owl Prowl in New Brunswick

15 April 2004 - Bird Studies Canada (BSC) Atlantic Region and the Atlantic Wildlife Institute (AWI) will be collaborating on a public owl prowl, 23 April. The event takes place at the Institute’s headquarters, located in Cooksville (near Sackville), NB. Ramsey Hart, BSC Atlantic Program Coordinator, will deliver a presentation on the natural history of owls and the Atlantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey, to be followed by a presentation on the work of AWI in recuperating injured owls. A special visit by one or more of AWI’s non-releasable captive owls is also planned. The evening will conclude under the stars, as participants head into the night to survey the owls around the 100-acre AWI site.

Loon Ambassadors Grateful to Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund

15 April 2004 - Bird Studies Canada’s (BSC’s) Atlantic Region has been granted $4,800 by the Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund to continue it's loon conservation education and outreach program - Making Nova Scotia's Lakes Loon Friendly. A core element of this program are the Loon Ambassadors, individuals who volunteer their time to share their enthusiasm and concern for this iconic Canadian species. Through this program, BSC staff and Ambassadors make presentations, distribute literature, post Loon Alert signs, and promote the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey.

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New Contacts at Waterford Volunteer Fair

14 April 2004 - Beth Wells, Membership Services at Bird Studies Canada (BSC), spoke recently with more than 200 students at the Volunteer Fair at Waterford District High School, ON, about Citizen Science Programs and volunteer opportunities. Beth outlined many of BSC’s programs including Project NestWatch, Project FeederWatch, and Long Point Bird Observatory. The focus for the Fair was on learning new skills, meeting new people, and building future contacts. Many of the students are considering further education in a biology-related field and are keen birders!

Red-shouldered Hawk and Spring Woodpecker Survey 
Window has Opened

14 April 2004 - A reminder to participants in the Ontario Red-shouldered Hawk and Spring Woodpecker Survey that 17 April marks the beginning of this year’s survey. The survey is run during a single morning from 17 April to 7 May, so mark those calendars! In 2003, the second lowest number of Red-shouldered Hawks were reported since the survey began in 1991, so be sure to survey your route to provide us a clearer picture of population dynamics. All data should be returned to BSC by 15 May, even if few birds were reported. Close to 100 routes are surveyed by volunteers across the province. A big thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers! Click here to see the results of last year's survey. 

 

 

 

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Marsh Monitoring Program Newsletter Available

5 April 2004 - Click here to read the 2004 Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) newsletter. Through the efforts of many dedicated and skilled volunteers who survey amphibians, marsh birds, or both, the MMP contributes to the conservation of wetlands and wetland dependent wildlife in the Great Lakes region. The topics in this edition of the newsletter include: MMP Volunteers Describe Habitat Well; Drummond Islanders Go Frogging; Marsh Monitoring Program Migrates East; and more. MMP is a binational, long-term monitoring program developed by Bird Studies Canada and Environment Canada, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to contribute to Great Lakes wetland conservation. This year the program is in process of expanding into Québec.

 

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