Archives

3 September 2004 
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Latin American Training Continues

31 August 2004 - Paraguayan biologist, Leticia Lopez, has arrived in Canada to take part in the Latin American Training Program at Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) this fall, thanks to support from the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS). Soon to follow is Alain Parada from Cuba, thanks to support from Trent University. The pair will receive hands on training in bird population monitoring techniques including bird banding, censusing, and other surveys, that will ultimately benefit bird monitoring efforts in their home countries. Earlier in the summer, three Mexicans attended similar training sessions at LPBO, thanks to funding from the CWS Latin American Program. To learn more about this important international training opportunity, click here.

Banner Year for Great Lakes Piping Plovers

30 August 2004 - Piping Plovers nesting in the Great Lakes region had a banner year for productivity in 2004. Fifty-five breeding pairs were recorded this year - the greatest number of pairs since the species was listed as Endangered in 1985. And, 93 chicks fledged - the greatest fledging success since the species was listed. The Great Lakes population has increased substantially and these plovers are about one-third of the way to the recovery goal of 150 pairs. Unfortunately, all the increase has been in the U.S., and this subspecies is now close to extirpation in Ontario. To view newsletter Great Lakes Piping Plover Call click here.

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Bird Studies Canada Welcomes Incoming President, Dr. George Finney

2 September 2004 - Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is pleased to announce that as of 1 October 2004 Dr. George Finney will begin his new position as BSC's President. Dr. Finney acquired his Doctorate from Queen's University in 1975. His thesis topic was population ecology of Snow Geese and most of his fieldwork was done in the far north of Canada. He joined the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) in 1977 and continued work as a researcher for several years. In 1980, Dr. Finney began gradually assuming management responsibilities at CWS. In 1985, he came to Sackville, NB as the Regional Director of Canadian Wildlife Service - Atlantic Region. In 1994, following re-structuring of Environment Canada, Dr. Finney became the Regional Director of the Environmental Conservation Branch - Atlantic Region. His responsibilities included regional Environment Canada programs related to natural resource conservation, water conservation and management, migratory bird conservation, Species at Risk and protected areas, ecosystem science, and laboratory analysis. George also received the Prime Minister's Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Public Service of Canada, which was presented at Government House, Ottawa in 1999. George's bilingual capability, as well as his skill in building partnerships and securing funds, will serve Bird Studies Canada well.

Loon Surveyor to Present to Carden Field Naturalists

2 September 2004 - Canadian Lakes Loon Survey participant, Vic Orr, will be presenting "Making Lakes Loon Friendly" to the Carden Field Naturalists on 15 September 2004. The group is hosting a presentation on the life history and conservation of the Common Loon on 15 September at 7:00 p.m. at the Carden Recreation Centre in Carden, ON. Vic has been participating in Bird Studies Canada's Canadian Lakes Loon Survey for the past 23 years, surveying loon chick survival on Four Mile Lake near Burnt River, ON.
  As guest speaker, Vic's talk will include information on loon species in Canada with emphasis on the Common Loon and threats the species faces in Ontario's cottage country. He will also discuss the history of the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, some survey results, and tips to ensure that lakes remain Loon Friendly. The Carden Recreation Centre is at Lake Dalrymple, north of Kirkfield along Lake Dalrymple Road (258 Lake Dalrymple Road). For more information, or to attend the talk, contact Wendy Moore at 705-833-2046.

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Quest Nature Tours Winner Reports from Newfoundland

22 August 2004 - Baillie Birdathon participant, Kevin Shackleton, has fond memories of the people, places, and wildlife of Newfoundland thanks to Quest Nature Tours. Kevin was the winner of the 2003 Grand Prize - an all-inclusive trip for two along the coast of Newfoundland. With ample opportunity to observe nature's variety and bounty, Kevin was especially impressed with the excellent leadership on board. Here’s an excerpt from Kevin’s experience at sea.

"My knees were tired from all the standing so I pulled a folding chair out to the railing and had just sat down when I noticed a good-sized bird low off the port bow. I remember asking myself what type of shearwater that was and then quickly realizing that there were large white crescents in the primaries. I had looked at the field guide for skuas and jaegers before I left home and those crescents were only on skuas, either Great or South Polar. In my haste to get on deck I had left my field guide in the cabin, four decks below. Then I remembered that there was a seabird guide in the cabin on Deck 7. I quickly located it and checked the skua page. I was convinced it was a Great Skua by its uniform, dark brown plumage and its barrel-chested look. These birds are like jaegers in that they steal food from other seabirds. Right on cue, the skua went after a Greater Shearwater and drove it to the surface of the bay. I was dancing around, yelling and pumping my arm over life bird number 8 for the trip."

Bird Studies Canada wishes to thank Quest Nature Tours for providing an all-inclusive guided voyage of Newfoundland again in 2004 for the Birdathon. For more information on Quest Nature Tours, click here. Stay tuned for 2004 Baillie Birdathon prize winners, to be drawn prior to Bird Studies Canada’s Annual Members Meeting on 12 September 2004.

Breeding Bird Survey Coordinators Meet

23 August 2004 - Bird Studies Canada’s Bird Population Biologist, Debbie Badzinski, and British Columbia Program Manager, Dick Cannings, recently attended a Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) coordinators meeting in Québec, held in conjuction with the Partner's in Flight/Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee meetings. As regional coordinators for Ontario and BC, Debbie and Dick participated in discussions about recruitment, attracting younger surveyors, obtaining coordinates for stops, and creating training materials. The next official BBS coordinators meeting will be in April 2005 in Patuxent, Maryland. Breeding Bird Surveys are an important tool in estimating bird population numbers and tracking populations over time. BBS is coordinated in Canada by the Canadian Wildlife Service. To learn more about the Survey, click here.

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BC Coastal Waterbird Surveyors to Start Counting

3 September 2004 - The British Columbia Coastal Waterbird Survey resumes on 12 September 2004. Surveys occur once every month on every second Sunday of the month, until 10 April 2005. Surveyors are picking up their binoculars and scopes to start counting numbers of birds along the BC coast, contributing important observations for monitoring waterbird population changes over time. To learn more about the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey, click here.

Hooded Warbler Field Season Complete

2 September 2004 - This year, Bird Studies Canada, in partnership with the Hooded Warbler/Acadian Flycatcher Recovery Team, continued long-term monitoring of Hooded Warblers in southern Ontario. In St. Williams Forest, where the bulk of the population resides, 47 territorial males were present, and 38 nests were monitored. In addition to nest searching and monitoring, the crew also colour banded adults and young birds and searched adjacent woodlots for colour banded individuals. Thanks to Jessie Antoniak, Rosalind Ford, and Crissy Ranellucci for field assistance and to Environment Canada for funding.

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Bird Studies Canada to Attend Carolinian Canada's 
20th Anniversary Conference

2 September 2004 - Carolinian Canada's 20th Anniversary Conference is being held at the Port Franks Community Centre on Lake Huron on 1-2 October 2004. The theme of this year's conference is "Thinking Big, Wild Ideas: Conserving Carolinian Landscapes and Species at Risk." Jon McCracken, Bird Studies Canada's Ontario Program Manager, will be giving a talk about Important Bird Areas and recovery planning in relation to Carolinian forest birds at risk. For conference and registration details, click here.

Overwhelming Support for Future Great Lakes Waterfowl Symposiums

30 August 2004 - The Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, Canadian Wildlife Service - Environment Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources recently held a Great Lakes Waterfowl Symposium in London, ON (23-26 August). Over 100 people from 2 provinces and 7 states were in attendance, including university, state, provincial, federal, and non-government biologists, managers, and scientists. Approximately 50 talks were presented in 7 theme-based sessions. A poster session was also held. By the end of the event, there was overwhelming support for holding a Great Lakes Waterfowl Symposium every 3 years to continue to promote communication, coordination, and collaboration among interested parties. Paul Ashley won the award for best M.Sc. presentation and Michael Schummer won the award for best Ph.D. presentation. Both Paul and Mike are being supervised by Dr. Scott Petrie and are being supported through the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund.

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