Archives

6 August 2004 
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Bird Links to the World reaches 2 millions Hits

31 July 2004 - Bird links to the World is a web site managed by BSC's Senior Scientist Denis Lepage and hosted by Bird Studies Canada. The page offers over 18,000 links to bird-related web sites from around the world, organized by geographic region or categories. From any geographic page, the visitor can obtain free bird checklists, browse web sites and read trip reports from other birdwatchers. The popular web site recently received its 2 millionth hit on 2 August 2004. Click here to visit Bird Links to the World.

Golden Gate Bridge Photo: Denis Lepage

BSC Participates in Bird Monitoring Data Workgroup

31 July 2004 - BSC Senior Scientist Denis Lepage recently co-chaired a workshop in Point Reyes, California, from 19-20 July 2004. The workshop was organized jointly by Bird Studies Canada, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Biological Inventory Initiative (NBII, US Geological Survey), the Canadian Systems for the Environment (CISE, Environment Canada) and Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO). The objective of the workshop was to discuss the establishment of a Bird Monitoring Data Network that will allow intitutions to share bird data and make them available widely over the Internet using a common standardized approach. This network, called Avian Knowledge Network (AKN), will help make large bird monitoring datasets available more easily for conservation purposes (eg, calculating bird population trends by combining point count data from several sources from accross North America).

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$600,000 in Conservation Funding up for Grabs

30 July 2004 - Conservationists around the world are invited to apply for a 2005 BP Conservation Programme Award. Celebrating its fifteenth year in 2005, the BP Conservation Program is the result of a long-term partnership between BirdLife, a number of other environmental NGOs and BP.
   The award provides funding, training and support for field research projects planned and carried out by young conservationists that are tackling conservation issues of global importance. The program presents awards and training on an annual basis to international teams working around the developing world.
  In 2005, US $600,000 in funding will be available for winning projects, with awards ranging from $7,500 to $75,000. The program aims to develop a multidisciplinary global network with biodiversity conservation expertise, deliver major new findings to science and make a significant contribution to the priorities set by the international conservation community. Since 1990, the program has supported 250 projects in more than 70 countries worldwide and supported more than 2,500 individuals.
  The closing date for applications is 31 October 2004. For further information, application forms and guidelines click here.

Bi-national Bald Eagle interests

13 July 2004 - Bald Eagles don’t recognize political borders, so efforts to conserve and manage this species must be bi-national. In order to address cross-border concerns pertaining to Bald Eagles around Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River, a panel of experts was convened at a workshop held at the Minna Anthony Nature Center (Wellesley Island, NY). In attendance were individuals from Bird Studies Canada, Parks Canada, Environment Canada, US Environmental Protection Agency, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Ministry of Environment, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources. As part of a Lakewide Management Plan ("LaMP"), initiative, the objective of the meeting was to discuss habitat restoration goals and strategies for Bald Eagles in the Lake Ontario basin. Thanks to funding from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources through a partnership agreement put forth under the Canada Ontario Agreement (COA), BSC will be working closely with US partners to evaluate eagle habitat on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario. Part of this work involves developing a predictive model of the habitat requirements and preferences of Bald Eagles, based upon analyses of current and historic information from Lakes Erie and Ontario.

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BSC well represented at Conference in Québec City

5 August 2004 - The American Ornithologist's Union and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists are coming to Québec City for a joint-meeting from 16-21 August. For the event, BSC will host a kiosk and 5 staff members will present BSC's recent work. Becky Whittam will be speaking on Bicknell's Thrush, Debbie Badzinski will give 2 talks (Hooded Warblers and nocturnal owl surveys), Ryan Zimmerling will present BSC’s research on breeding birds in Ontario's boreal forest, and Dick Cannings and Stu Mackenzie will present posters on riparian warblers and Prothonotary Warblers respectively. Dawn Laing, also working for BSC, will present her work completed on Bald Eagles and Ospreys for her Master's degree. To learn more about the meeting, click here.

Fall Migration Underway at LPBO and from coast to coast

4 August 2004 - August 10th marks the start of the 45th consecutive year of fall migration monitoring at Long Point Bird Observatory on the north shore of Lake Erie. Bird observations and banding will be recorded daily throughout the fall at the three LPBO field stations. At the Old Cut Field Station, the only station open to the public, the Friends of LPBO will again be greeting visitors and operating the LPBO Shoppe each morning from 9 am to 12 noon.
  Several other Canadian Migration Monitoring Network stations have already started their fall covarage and the rest will be starting up soon. Many of these stations regularly post their highlights and banding totals on the web. Check the sightings board section of the CMMN webpage to find out about fall migration in your region.

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Former President Michael Bradstreet to be Roasted at BSC Luncheon

3 August 2004 - You won't want to miss this! Enjoy a delicious luncheon at the Greens At Renton while former President, Michael Bradstreet, is roasted and toasted by friends, family, colleagues, and co-workers on Sunday 12 September from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Speakers from national conservation organizations, biologists with "in the field" knowledge and even Michael's mom Lillian will be sharing their stories and recognizing Michael's efforts. Tickets are $75 per person ($50. is tax creditable). At Michael's request, funds raised will go to the Long Point Bird Observatory Endowment Fund. The luncheon will be followed by BSC's Annual Members Meeting at 3:00 p.m. To reserve your spot at the Tribute Luncheon and/or to attend Bird Studies Canada's Annual Members Meeting, please contact Rosie Kirton at rkirton@bsc-eoc.org or phone 1-888-448-2473.

Photo: Stu Mackenzie

2004 Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop Underway.

1 August 2004 - Every year, Long Point Bird Observatory opens its doors and the wilds of the Long Point region to 6 keen teenagers interested in furthering their ornithological studies by taking part in the Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop (YOW). This year’s YOWs (Andre Gerard (SK), Stephane Gerard (SK), Justine Panhuis (ON), Christian Lunn (NS), Erin O’Reilly (ON), and Daniele Mitchell (ON)) arrived at Long Point on July 30^th to begin10 days of intensive bird study. They are being led by BSC/LPBO staff on a variety of hands-on ornithological, scientific and natural history activities, including learning the ins and outs of banding and migration monitoring, ageing and sexing techniques, bird taxonomy, breeding bird surveys, bird skinning, data collection, and birding excursions and presentations.
  As always, the workshop is supported by BSC’s Doug Tarry Natural History Fund. This year, additional support is being provided through special grants from the Ontario Wildlife Foundation and Canada’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s (NSERC) "PromoScience" program for young scientists. For more information on the Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop click here. For information on other Long Point Bird Observatory programs, click here or contact the Landbird Programs Coordinator at lpbo@bsc-eoc.org or (519) 586-3531 ext 223.

 

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Rare Bird Visits Long Point Area

5 August 2004 - On the morning of 5 August, Linda Whiting was shocked to look out her trailer window and see a stunning male Painted Bunting at her feeder in the Hidden Valley campground near Normandale, just east of Port Rowan on Lake Erie. "I couldn’t believe such a beautiful bird was sitting on my feeder; I just had to tell someone," she said. We’re thrilled that she decided to tell us. Her phone call almost cleared the BSC office and most of the staff who made the 15 minute trip were rewarded with excellent views of this rarity. This sighting represents the 4^th record for Long Point and the first one not at a remote location on the Point. Campground owner Ian Barnes was also excited about the rare visitor and eagerly awaits the many birders who will likely come to see the bird. Normally found in the southeastern United States, there have only been about 3 dozen sightings in Ontario.

Avian Energetics Lab to Analyze Flicker Eggs

5 August 2004 - The Avian Energetics Lab has confirmed a new contract to conduct energetics work on flicker eggs. Dr. Karen Wiebe at the University of Saskatchewan is interested in the protein and ash content of the yolks. The intent of her research is to attempt to quantify the female's energy expenditure during clutch formation. Dr. Wiebe suggests that, while flickers have very large clutches for a woodpecker .. up to 12 eggs, the eggs themselves are relatively small and may be cheap to produce. Flickers also have a prodigious egg laying capacity. One egg-pulling experiment in the wild found that a female laid 73 eggs in 73 consecutive days. Once again, this suggests that eggs are energetically cheap, but Dr. Wiebe would like measures of yolk "quality" to compare with other birds to see if this is the case.

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A Loonie For Your Thoughts: 
Loon Education project underway in Nova Scotia

3 August 2004 - Thanks to funding from the Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund, BSC Atlantic is coordinating a loon education program in Nova Scotia, as part of "Making Nova Scotia's Lakes Loon Friendly". Brochures on lead sinker/jig alternatives and loon friendly lake practices have been sent to angling clubs in Nova Scotia for distribution to participants in fishing tournmaments. A Loon Ambassador presentation has also been made to 15 children at Red Tail camp near Pictou, NS. Summer student Kristina Thompson is busy preparing a presentation and Teacher's Guide, to be delivered this Fall and Winter to Grades 5-6 classrooms in Nova Scotia. If you are an educator in Nova Scotia and are interested in receiving a presentation by Bird Studies Canada on "Making Nova Scotia's Lakes Loon Friendly", please contact Becky Whittam (becky.whittam@ec.gc.ca).

Dawn Laing and friend Photo: Ron Ridout

Bald Eagle talk at Pinery Provincial Park

30 July 2004 - Dawn Laing, Species at Risk Biologist and Bald Eagle Project Coordinator with Birds Studies Canada, gave a presentation to the interested public at Pinery Provincial Park over the Civic Holiday long weekend. Over 150 people flocked to the outdoor amphitheatre to learn about the recovery of Bald Eagles in Southern Ontario. The slideshow was well received by the audience and the question period demonstrated a growing interest in not only Bald Eagles, but species at risk in general. To learn more about species at risk click here.

 

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