Bird
Studies Canada Goes Batty
14
July 2006 – Bird Studies Canada (BSC) has some preliminary
results from an investigation of bats at Long Point Bird Observatory
(LPBO) stations – and the findings are quite exciting due to the
diversity of species and apparent abundance.
To carry out the research, LPBO forged
a new partnership with Dr. Brock Fenton from the University of Western
Ontario. One of his students, Aimee McMillan, did some preliminary
acoustic work during the week of 12 June when bat activity was recorded
at the Tip and at the Old Cut field stations. At the Tip, Hoary Bats (Lasiurus
cinereus) were the most commonly recorded species, easily identified
by the very low frequency of their calls. The other species recorded may
have been Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) or Silver-haired Bats
(Lasionycteris noctivagans), which have very similar calls.
At Old Cut there was much more activity
and a wider variety of species. Hoary Bats and Big Brown Bats were
recorded over the boat channels, while Red Bats (Lasiurus borealis),
Hoary Bats, and possibly some Eastern Pipestrelles (Pipistrellus
subflavus) were recorded foraging around street lights.
These results were very encouraging for the research team who will begin
recording, capturing, marking and collecting tissues for genetic and
stable isotope analysis on the migrating and resident bats at Long Point
on 1 August.
Nova
Scotia Piping Plovers
14
July 2006 – Bird Studies Canada (BSC) has begun two studies
in Nova Scotia – a brood habitat-use study for Piping Plovers, and a
beach-user attitude and behaviours study. Two Parks Canada branches are
participating in our brood habitat-use study and are providing data on
low human-use beaches.
In other developments, we received confirmation of funding from
Environment Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program. A full-time assistant
was hired for June and July to help coordinate the Guardian Program on
the South Shore where most Piping Plovers breed in Nova Scotia.
BSC’s Nova Scotia Piping Plover
Conservation Program Coordinator Sue Abbott has been travelling to the
North Shore to train new Guardians, meet with regional biologists, and
work with a local group to coordinate Piping Plover education activities
through the Acadian youth camp.
Sue is also developing an educational
display on Piping Plovers for restaurant table tops in coastal
communities across Nova Scotia.
Return to Top of Page
Citizen
Science Display at Ontario Science Centre
14
July 2006 – Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is featured quite
heavily in a new Citizen Science display at the Ontario Science Centre
in Toronto. The Canadian Loons Lake Survey is highlighted and there is
also a new display on bird banding featuring materials and equipment
provided by the Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO). In addition, Project
FeederWatch (PFW) is one of the science centre’s public programs.
Young Ornithologists’ Workshop
14
July 2006 – Bird Studies Canada (BSC) has had an incredible
response to its Young Ornithologists’ Workshop (YOW) this year, with
more than 20 applications received. It was a tough job, but we have
narrowed it down to the top six, all of whom have now been confirmed.
The workshop runs at Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) from 28 July to
6 August and is supported by BSC’s Doug Tarry Natural History Fund and
the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s PromoScience
program. In addition, three of last year’s YOW participants will be
returning to Long Point as interns for the 2006 fall season. Each will
be working on independent research projects during their month-long
stay.
BSC Launches
Eagle Contest on Detroit River
14
July 2006 – Bird Studies Canada (BSC) will take part in a
celebration of the ecosystem, history, and biodiversity of Peche Island
in the Detroit River on Saturday, 22 July. We are using the opportunity
to launch a Name-the-Bald Eagle Contest.
Situated in the Detroit River
downstream of Lake St. Clair, Peche Island is a 100-acre island of
wilderness between the cities of Windsor and Detroit. Boats will
transport people back and forth to the island where a variety of
activities such as tours, speakers, and crafts for kids will take place
between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
BSC and the Essex County Field
Naturalists Club are partnering with Detroit River Canadian Cleanup on a
Bald Eagle research, monitoring, outreach, and education project, which
focuses on Bald Eagles in the Detroit River. As part of this project, a
young eaglet was outfitted with a satellite telemetry unit to allow
biologists and the public to follow the young eaglet's journey into
adulthood. Peche Island celebration participants are invited to enter a
contest to name the young Bald Eagle and receive some great prizes.
For more information on BSC’s Eagle program
click here
or contact Debbie Badzinski.
BSC at
BC Field Ornithologists Conference
14
July 2006 – Bird Studies Canada (BSC) staff members Peter
Davidson and Dick Cannings will give presentations at the16th Annual
Conference of the British Columbia Field Ornithologists (BCFO) in
Kelowna, Friday to Sunday,14-16 July.
Peter will present posters on the Coastal Waterbird Survey and
Beached Bird Survey, while Dick will give a talk on eBird Canada, the
online data entry system for bird sightings (www.ebird.org). This year's
banquet speaker is Dr. Alton Harestad, who will speak on the
Biodiversity Centre for Wildlife Studies. The conference will feature
field trips, as well as speakers, and Dick will lead the post-conference
extension field trip – a three-day adventure from Sunday to Tuesday in
the spectacular Cathedral Lakes area.
For more information on the
conference, go to the BCFO website
or contact Dick at
dickcannings@shaw.ca.
Return to Top of Page
Bird
Migration Monitoring
14
July 2006 – Scheduling for the fall bird migration is already
underway at Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO). Staff are still trying
to catch up with all the data from the spring, but according to the
latest figures, approximately 12,500 birds were banded.
It was another glorious season, with a
consistent movement of birds and lots of interesting rarities, including
a sighting of a Black Swift on 21 May – a first for Long Point
and Ontario (pending acceptance by the provincial records committee)!
All of the other juicy details can be
found on the
Long Point Sightings Board.
Preparations are now underway for the fall season (15 August to 15
November). Volunteer scheduling is now taking place.. Anyone interested
in opportunities offered by LPBO this fall can check out the web site
by
clicking here
or contact Stuart Mackenzie by e-mail at
lpbo@bsc-eoc.org.
BC Beached Bird
Survey Finds Oil Slicks
14
July 2006 – Data collected from a series of flights over the
BC coast in the spring indicate that oily bilge-dumping is occurring
frequently in the Juan de Fuca Strait and off western Vancouver Island.
Five slicks were seen in as many days. Bird Studies Canada (BSC)
obtained the data as part of its BC Beached Bird Survey in collaboration
with Patrick O’Hara (University of Victoria/Canadian Wildlife Service
Birds Oiled at Sea Program).
Return to Top of Page
Two Birds
Removed from Ontario’s Endangered List
2 July
2006 – The Ontario government has taken the Peregrine Falcon
off the endangered list and has also reduced areas of Ontario where the
Bald Eagle is considered endangered. The Bald Eagle and the Peregrine
Falcon were two of the first species listed in regulation and protected
by the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Populations of both species have
gained strength in recent years.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources (OMNR) has down-listed – or improved – the Peregrine Falcon's
provincial status from endangered to threatened. “Endangered” denotes
“any native species facing imminent extinction or extirpation (no longer
in the wild).” “Threatened” means “any native species that is at risk of
becoming endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.”
The Peregrine will continue to be
protected as a Specially Protected Raptor under the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Act, which protects it from hunting and trapping, and also
protects nests and eggs. The Planning Act and forest management planning
will continue to provide habitat protection.
The Bald Eagle will continue to be listed as endangered south of the
French and Mattawa rivers. North of this line it will be down-listed
from Endangered to Special Concern and, like the Peregrine, will
continue to be protected as a Specially Protected Raptor.
”Special Concern” refers to “any native
species with characteristics that make it sensitive to human activities
or natural events.”
Bird Studies Canada’s (BSC’s) Jon
McCracken was specifically quoted in the official OMNR news release.
"We fully support the province's
decision to down-list the Bald Eagle in the north and look forward to
one day seeing the southern Ontario population recover to the point that
it too can be down-listed," said Jon, Ontario Program Manager with BSC.
"There is no doubt Peregrine Falcons are on a strong path to recovery,
but need to be monitored to ensure there is no population decline."
You can view the decision notice by
visiting the Environmental Bill
of Rights Registry and entering Registry Number RB05E6803.
Return to Top of Page
