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3 April 2009 
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WHSRN Approves New Sites for Network

27 March 2009 – The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) has announced the recent approval of three new sites and the first ever “Landscape of Hemispheric Importance” (Rainwater Basin, Nebraska, U.S.) for inclusion in the Network. The sites are: Bahía Lomas (the first WHSRN site in Chile), Delta del Río Iscuandé (the first WHSRN site in Colombia), and Bahía Magdalena (Baja California, Mexico).
   The WHSRN Hemispheric Council approved the nominations to designate these four important areas at its meeting in Santa Marta, Colombia, February 23-27, 2009. With these additions, the Network is now 74 sites strong in 12 countries, with partners conserving and managing a total of 29 million acres (12 million hectares) of habitat for shorebirds. To learn more, visit the WHSRN website.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Surveys

Photo: Zheng Jianping / www.rarebirdsyearbook.com

25 March 2009 – Recent surveys of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper’s wintering grounds in Myanmar and Vietnam have provided additional (although not entirely encouraging) information about the non-breeding distribution of this Critically Endangered species. In Vietnam, surveys were carried out in the Red River Delta between January 9-18 as part of a long-term initiative by the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Recovery Team. More than 27 individuals were recorded in this area in the mid-1990s, but not a single Spoon-billed Sandpiper was seen in January 2009.
   The Myanmar survey was carried out in mid-January by an international team of scientists led by BANCA and ArcCona Ecological Consulting. The sole Canadian member of the expedition, Nathan Hentze, has a BSC connection: he participated in the Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop in 1997! In total, 63 Spoon-billed Sandpipers were observed, and the survey found one new wintering site, but overall numbers were down from the previous year’s survey.
   For more information about the surveys, or to read the Spoon-billed Sandpiper account from the Rare Birds Yearbook 2009, visit the BirdLife International website.

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Database Manager/Programmer Position: Deadline Extended to April 27

3 April 2009 – The deadline for applications for the Database Manager/Programmer position has been extended until April 27. Bird Studies Canada is seeking a database manager and/or database programmer to assist with our research and bird monitoring programs. This entry- to mid-level position is being offered initially as a one-year term, with possibility of renewal. Primary responsibilities will include the development and maintenance of databases and systems used for the management of bird population data, development of data tools and interfaces that can help streamline the transfer of data and ensure high standards of quality, as well as data extractions and queries in support of the science activities of BSC staff and partners. BSC’s National Data Centre is responsible for the management of very large datasets on bird populations, generated by a wide variety of monitoring programs that engage thousands of citizen scientists every year. To find out more about this position, visit the Job Opportunities section of our website.

Birdathon: Register Now!

30 March 2009 – Registrations for the 2009 Baillie Birdathon are now being accepted. Visit the BSC website for more information about the Baillie Birdathon, to register, or to download a participant kit. There are many fabulous prizes available to be won by participants, including the grand prize generously donated by Eagle-Eye Tours – a guided tour of your choice of Central Mexico, Costa Rica, or the Canadian Rockies! Be sure to register by May 1 for a chance at the “early bird” prize – a complimentary one-year BSC membership, and the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America. To see the full list of prizes available to be won, select this link. 

BSC Welcomes New Staff Member

16 March 2009 – Bird Studies Canada is pleased to announce that Cindy Pilkington has joined us at our headquarters in Port Rowan. Cindy is assuming the position of Member Services Assistant. Cindy brings with her a great deal of experience in customer service and accounting. As our Member Services Assistant, Cindy will be involved in updating the membership database, answering phone calls, assisting with Birdathon, and processing registrations for Project Feederwatch, Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, and Christmas Bird Count. On behalf of the entire BSC staff, welcome Cindy!

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Visit BSC’s Booth at the Green Living Show in Toronto, April 24-26

3 April 2009 – Are you interested in discovering ways to reduce energy use, save money, and live a healthy green lifestyle? Visitors to the Green Living Show will enjoy great organic food and drink, see informative eco-speakers and celebrities, and find hundreds of useful day-to-day environmental solutions.
   The third annual consumer show dedicated to all things green will take place April 24-26 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Visit the Green Living Show website for hours and other details.
  Select this link to download and print your 2 for 1 admission coupon, offered exclusively to BSC members. We hope to see you there – come find us at booth #1907 on the main aisle!

EMAN Releases Ontario Frog and Toad Report

26 March 2009 – A report titled “Assessment of Trends in Frog and Toad Populations in Ontario using Citizen Science Monitoring Data,” produced by Bird Studies Canada and the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), has been released and is available for public viewing on the EMAN website. This report assesses long-term trends in Ontario frog and toad populations by comparing and contrasting the results of four volunteer-based monitoring programs: EMAN’s Amphibian Road Call Count, Backyard Frog Survey, and FrogWatch Canada, and Bird Studies Canada’s Marsh Monitoring Program. Collectively, these results shed more light on the current state of Ontario’s calling amphibians and how we can improve methods to track their populations. Email aqsurvey@birdscanada.org for a PDF version of this report.

Nature Manitoba Offers Shorebirds Workshop

Upland Sandpiper Photo: Christian Artuso

23 March 2009 – Watching the return of astounding globe-traversing migrant shorebirds is one of the finest joys of spring, so why not get ready for their arrival? An upcoming Nature Manitoba workshop deals with the identification of all the shorebird species that occur regularly in Manitoba, in both breeding and non-breeding plumages. The instructor for the Shorebirds of Manitoba workshop will be Christian Artuso, Bird Studies Canada’s Manitoba Projects Manager. Christian will lead the group in examining photographs and discussing the best ways to separate similar-looking species by plumage and GISS (general impression, size, and shape), starting with the larger species and working down to the toughest of all the “peeps” (small sandpipers).
   The workshop will take place in Winnipeg at Kelvin High School, Room 31, on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome, but preregistration is required. The fee is $5 for Nature Manitoba members, or $10 for non-members. To register, call the Nature Manitoba Office at 204-943-9029.

Maritimes Atlas Database Adds 11,700 New Records

23 March 2009 – Data from three sources – Canadian Wildlife Service Eastern Waterfowl Breeding Ground Survey, Breeding Bird Survey of Environment Canada, and Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resource Bald Eagle Surveys from Inverness and Victoria Counties on Cape Breton Island – were recently added to the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas database. This added approximately 11,700 new records to the database, a jump of nearly 10%. These institutional data will help provide a complete snapshot of breeding birds in the Maritime provinces for 2006-2008. Having the data incorporated into the database now will aid in identifying coverage gaps, and help target efforts in areas not covered or surveyed by other programs.
   Owl data from NB, mainland NS, and PE was uploaded to the Maritimes Atlas database last fall. The project already has more owl records than the first Maritimes atlas, and the information is helping focus owl survey efforts in uncovered territory this winter and next. Over the course of the next two years, the Maritimes Atlas team will continue to look for additional breeding bird data from outside sources. Contact atlas coordinator Becky Stewart at bstewart@birdscanada.org for more information about the project.

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