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20 April 2007 
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Bar-tailed Godwit Sets Long-Distance Record

5 April 2007 – Using satellite transmitters, U.S. and New Zealand scientists have begun tracking the northward migration of Bar-tailed Godwits. In March, one bird traveled from the Miranda Nature Reserve in New Zealand to Yalu Jiang at the northern end of China’s Yellow Sea in a continuous nine-day flight of 10,200 km. This is the longest known non-stop flight of any bird. The use of satellite telemetry has resulted in a significant advance in the understanding of the flight capabilities and migratory strategies of migratory waders. Visit the Pacific Shorebird Migration Project website to learn more about this tracking study, or select this link to view the movements of the Bar-Tailed Godwits.

FCC to Rule on Lighting for Communication Towers

13 April 2007, American Bird Conservancy – Each year, millions of migratory birds die in the U.S. after colliding with communication towers. In addition to warning aircraft of the presence of towers, steady burning or slow pulsing lights attract birds, particularly in bad weather during nighttime migration periods. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is considering a new rule to mandate strobe lights on towers, which are equally visible to planes but far less attractive to birds. For more information, visit the American Bird Conservancy website.

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        NATIONAL

 

Biodiversity Publication Committee Honours Jon McCracken Article

9 April 2007 – On an annual basis,  the Biodiversity Publication Committee recognizes the valuable contributions to the journal by selecting a “Best Article.” The committee has chosen a paper by BSC’s Ontario Program Manager Jon McCracken as the best article for the year 2006. The selection was made based on the following criteria: newness of the subject matter, scientific accuracy and documentation, attractiveness to a general reader, and clarity of the message. Congratulations Jon!
  The article, entitled “Where the Bobolinks Roam: The Plight of North America’s Grassland Birds,” was published in Biodiversity 6(3). A reprint can be downloaded from BSC’s online library by selecting this link.

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Bicknell’s Thrush Declining in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

20 April 2007 – The Bicknell’s Thrush, a rare, secretive songbird of highland forests in northeastern North America, appears to be in decline in the Maritimes. Data from four years of surveys from Bird Studies Canada’s High Elevation Landbird Program (HELP) indicate that Bicknell’s Thrush are declining along routes in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Up to 28 routes in the highlands of Cape Breton NS and 43 routes in the highlands of north-central and northwestern NB have been run by staff and volunteers using a consistent protocol since 2003. Recent analyses of HELP data conducted by the Canadian Wildlife Service have revealed annual declines of 7% in NB and 9% in NS. Declines remain apparent even within sub-regions of the two provinces; for example, Bicknell’s Thrush is declining on routes both inside and outside of Cape Breton Highlands National Park in NS.
  Bird Studies Canada is currently working with a group of Canadian and U.S. partners to convene an International Bicknell’s Thrush Working Group to discuss these declines, which may be due to habitat change on their North American breeding grounds or on their wintering grounds in the Dominican Republic. BSC will continue to monitor Bicknell’s Thrush through the High Elevation Landbird Program, with field surveys taking place in June. To volunteer for a HELP survey route, or for more information, contact Becky Whittam at bwhittam@bsc-eoc.org.

Un premier recensement du Programme d’ÉOC de hiboux nocturnes au Québec

Le 17 avril 2007 – Au Québec, on retrouve plusieurs initiatives d’inventaires de hiboux nocturnes. Certains existent depuis plusieurs années et opèrent sur une base à long terme. Toutefois, aucun d’entres eux ne couvre tout le Québec et jusqu’à cette année, le Programme de recensement de hiboux nocturnes d’ÉOC n’était pas actif dans cette province. En raison de l’intérêt des ornithologues québécois pour ce programme d’ÉOC et avec à la complicité des responsables de ce programme en Ontario, six routes d’inventaire seront réalisées cette année dans le cadre d’un projet pilote. L’implantation officielle du programme au Québec ce fera au printemps 2008, grâce au soutient de la société Protection des Oiseaux Québec sous la forme d’une bourse généreuse du Fonds commémoratif Alfred B. Kelly. Cette contribution permettra la production d’une trousse bilingue pour les participants qui comprendra un disque compact de formation avec des chants et des cris de hiboux nocturnes ainsi qu’un disque compact de repasse de chants et de cris pour les fins de l’inventaire.
  Vous êtes donc convié à un rendez-vous nocturne au Québec en 2008! Pour plus d’information vous pouvez joindre Andrew P. Coughlan au 418-649-6062 ou acoughlan@bsc-eoc.org.

Province-wide Nocturnal Owl Survey Coming to Québec

17 April 2007 – Although a number of long-term owl monitoring projects are conducted in the province, Québec currently lacks a province-wide spring Nocturnal Owl Survey. Because of the interest shown by ornithologists from Québec for BSC’s Nocturnal Owl Survey, our Québec regional office has been working to set up such a survey. Earlier this year, with the aid of the Ontarian Nocturnal Owl Survey team, six trial routes were established across the province. This is just a beginning and we aim to launch the program officially in time for spring 2008.
   The project has recently been given a huge boost by Bird Protection Québec in the form of a generous contribution from the Kelly Support Grant. Among other things, this funding will allow the production of a bilingual participant kit that will include a training CD and a broadcast CD for use during the surveys.
   We invite you to join us in time for next spring. For further details please call Andrew Coughlan at (418) 649-6062 or email him at acoughlan@bsc-eoc.org.

Marsh Rehabilitation Options and Scaup Research
Presented to Waterfowlers

18 April 2007 – Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund (LPWWRF) Scientist Shannon Badzinski spoke at the recent annual meeting of the Long Point Waterfowlers’ Association (LPWA). In 2006, LPWWRF was contracted by the LPWA to provide a scientific assessment of the current condition of the Long Point Crown Marsh (LPCM) and also to provide specific recommendations regarding how to improve its habitat and wildlife use. Shannon presented this past research and gave a brief overview of steps recently taken by the LPCM Rehabilitation Steering Committee (consisting of reps from BSC, LPWWRF, LPWA, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Parks Ontario, and other concerned marsh users). He also gave a short presentation on LPWWRF’s Scaup Satellite Tracking Program and provided an update on the two birds the LPWA sponsored in 2005 and 2006 (for details select this link). LPWA members voted to continue to support LPWWRF’s research and donated $1000 toward sponsoring a third scaup during 2007. LPWWRF and BSC would like to thank the LPWA for their continued and long-term support of our wetland and waterfowl-based research.

Great Lakes Wetlands Centre to Open in 2008

20 April 2007 – Planning is well underway for the Great Lakes Wetlands Centre, a research and educational facility scheduled to open late next year. The facility will be located at Second Marsh, a natural heritage site on the shore of Lake Ontario in Oshawa, and will be aimed at those interested in learning about environmental health and sustainability. For more information, visit the Friends of Second Marsh website.

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