BSC Hosts
Ontario Chimney Swift Workshop
20
August 2009 – On August 10, 22 people representing provincial
and federal government, non-governmental organizations, academic
institutions, and naturalist groups across Ontario met at Bird Studies
Canada’s Port Rowan headquarters to discuss monitoring and research
initiatives for Chimney Swifts in Ontario. Topics included initiating
regional monitoring programs, and how to improve current methods;
limiting factors for Chimney Swifts; government policy and regulations;
and future directions for research and outreach activities. This
workshop was initiated through BSC’s Chimney Swift monitoring program,
Ontario SwiftWatch, which is funded through Environment Canada’s Habitat
Stewardship Program and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Species at Risk Stewardship Fund.
Chimney Swifts are currently
listed as ‘Special Concern’ in Ontario, but are being upgraded to
‘Threatened’ due to their precipitous population declines. Protection
and stewardship of an urban-dwelling Species at Risk presents unique
challenges, but also creates opportunities for concerned individuals to
participate in conservation activities in their own neighbourhoods. To
find out how you can contribute to Chimney Swift conservation efforts,
contact Hazel Wheeler (1-888-448-2473 ext. 165 or
hwheeler@birdscanada.org).
Young
Ornithologists Complete 2009 Workshop
Photo: Yousif Attia
19
August 2009 – Every year, the
Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop provides six keen teen
birders from across Canada with the opportunity to learn about birds,
without cost. On July 31, six students descended on the Long Point area
for a unique combination of education and fun. During the 10-day program
they were introduced to many aspects of bird-focused field biology,
including daily bird banding at Bird Studies Canada’s Long Point Bird
Observatory, learning about migration monitoring and nest searching
techniques, and exploring the unique ecology of the area.
A “Big Day” was conducted on
August 6; when all was said and done, the group had tallied 106
different bird species, a respectable total for early August. Other
special events included hummingbird banding with David Okines, preparing
study skins with Mary Gartshore, and a visit to the Canadian Raptor
Conservancy. Everything wrapped up on August 9, and just when it looked
like the workshop was over, the final net check provided the six excited
but exhausted teens with the “bird of the week,” an Olive-sided
Flycatcher. These young ornithologists will have the opportunity to
return to LPBO as interns and volunteers in future, to continue to hone
their skills.
Another Great
Atlas Season in BC
19
August 2009 – With 2009 field activities now wrapped up for
the British Columbia Breeding
Bird Atlas, the project has already surpassed the 2008 tallies.
Based on 2009 data entered by mid-August, about 8000 hours of general
atlassing have amassed over 65,000 records this season, with 3500 point
counts conducted. The cumulative number of 10 km grid squares with some
atlassing coverage for 2008-09 combined is now over 1920 (our five-year
target is about 4000). The atlas Steering Committee and project staff
extend a hearty thank you to everyone involved for a magnificent
coordinated effort! Keep watching the website over the coming months to
see how the stories of changing known bird distributions unfold, and
read tales of birders reaching parts of the province most people never
see.
All this would not have been
possible without the support of our funders and partners, including
Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service, the Vancouver
Foundation, the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, the BC Conservation
Foundation, the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program,
the Columbia Basin Trust, BC Transmission Corporation, the Pacific
Wildlife Foundation, the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund, the BC Field
Ornithologists, BC Nature, BC Ministry of Environment, and the
Biodiversity Centre for Wildlife Studies.
The results are already of
immense value to planning and conservation policy work, informing the
development of Bird Conservation Region Plans for western Canada, and
BC’s Conservation Framework, where provincial practitioners are using
the data on an almost daily basis!
Changes to
Ontario’s Species at Risk List
11
August 2009 – Acting on a report from the Committee on the
Status of Species at Risk in Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources is adding 10 species, removing one species, and reclassifying
eight species on the Species at Risk in Ontario list. The Chimney Swift
and Whip-poor-will are being added to the list of Threatened species.
Four additional bird species are being added as Special Concern: Common
Nighthawk, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Canada Warbler, and Horned Grebe.
Two other birds are being
reclassified to lower categories of risk, reflecting population
increases in recent years. Southern Ontario’s Bald Eagle population is
being downgraded from Endangered to Special Concern. The Hooded Warbler
is being reclassified from its previous status of Threatened to Special
Concern.
Select this link for more details.
New Article
by LPW Staff Published
10
August 2009 – A new article co-authored by a team that
includes Long Point Waterfowl scientists has been published in
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. “Selenium
Accumulation in Sea Ducks Wintering at Lake Ontario” by Michael L.
Schummer, Shannon S. Badzinski (LPW Biologist), Scott A. Petrie (LPW
Executive Director), Yu-Wei Chen, and Nelson Belzile evaluates selenium
concentrations in sea ducks, including Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes,
and Long-tailed Ducks, wintering at Lake Ontario.
Select this link to read the article online.
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