Record Year
for BC Burrowing Owl Reintroductions
Photo: Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of
BC
22 August 2007 – Burrowing Owls were
declared Extirpated in British Columbia in 1980, and since then attempts
have been made to bring this fascinating species back to the dry
grasslands. After years of hard work, the Burrowing Owl reintroduction
program carried out by the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of British
Columbia is starting to show impressive results. This spring a record
high of 120 captive-bred Burrowing Owls were released in the Thompson
Nicola grasslands of south-central BC, joining another record high 18
birds that had returned from the wintering grounds. These birds produced
an all-time high of 199 wild-born young at 38 nests. You can read more
about the Society’s work by
following this link.
Young
Ornithologists Complete 2007 Workshop
Photos: Ron Ridout
22 August 2007 – Every year, Long
Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) opens its doors to six of Canada’s
most promising young ornithologists, and
together we explore the wilds of the Long Point region. The program had
its start in the 1970s, and has operated continuously since 1994 as the
Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop (YOW), thanks to the
generosity and foresight of the late Doug Tarry. This year’s YOWs were
Lucas Berrigan (NS), Christopher Coxson (BC), Ian Cruickshank (BC),
Daniel Giesbrecht (SK), Kier Gigeroff (NS), and Jake Gillis (ON). They
arrived at Long Point on July 3 for a comprehensive and hands-on 10-day
introduction to the study of ornithology. LPBO staff led a variety of
excursions, presentations, and ornithological, scientific, and natural
history activities related to bird banding and migration monitoring,
population monitoring, ageing and sexing techniques, bird taxonomy,
breeding bird surveys, and preparing museum specimens.
As always, the workshop is
supported by BSC’s Doug Tarry Natural History Fund.
Visit our website for more information on
the YOW and other
Long Point Bird Observatory programs or contact the Landbird
Programs Coordinator at
lpbo@bsc-eoc.org or (519) 586-3531 ext. 231.
LPWWRF Opens
Research & Teaching Centre
18 August 2007 – The Long Point
Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund (LPWWRF) has entered into a
long-term agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to
take over a local Junior Ranger Camp. The facility, which will be
renamed the LPWWRF Research and Teaching Centre, is situated on 40 acres
just 10 minutes away from BSC headquarters. Amenities include full
kitchen and dining areas, a conference/meeting room, office space, a
staff house, two bunkhouses, and several storage sheds.
The Centre will enable LPWWRF to
expand its research, education, and professional training programs, and
will provide a home for LPWWRF graduate students, technicians, part-time
employees, volunteers, and participants in undergraduate courses and
youth education workshops. The facility will also be available to other
conservation- and education-based groups for activities, training, and
associated accommodation within southern Ontario. To inquire about using
the Centre, call Scott Petrie at (519) 586-3531 ext. 208 or email
spetrie@bsc-eoc.org.
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