Atlantic Canada High Elevation Landbird Program

The Bicknell's Thrush is an extremely secretive and elusive bird that breeds and lives at high elevations, and occasionally in coastal environments. It breeds in scrubby boreal forest, usually among stunted stands of balsam fir and spruce. The breeding range of the Bicknell's Thrush extends from New York and Connecticut to the Gaspé Peninsula and the highlands of New Brunswick and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The Bicknell's Thrush has a beautiful, yet remarkably subtle song that is often the only indication that a bird is present. Interestingly, both males and females of this species are known to sing. To listen to samples of the Bicknell's Thrush songs and calls, click here

The Bicknell's Thrush is threatened by development and human disturbance because of its specialized habitat requirements. Breeding individuals are known to abandon their nests as a result of even the most miniscule disturbance. Forest habitat loss as a result of cell tower or ski hill development, or logging, can have a serious impact on this species. Because the Bicknell's Thrush is so susceptible to disturbance and habitat alteration, and because very little is known about its population size and distribution, it was recently classified as a 'Species of Special Concern' by COSEWIC. 

In June of 2002, Bird Studies Canada began annual monitoring of high elevation bird species through the High Elevation Landbird Program (HELP). Species monitored by this program include Bicknell's Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Winter Wren, Blackpoll Warbler, White-throated Sparrow and Fox Sparrow.Surveys are conducted on at least 67 different routes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia from the 4th to the 25th of June. Each survey route is 1 km in length, and has 5 stops 250m apart; at each stop, surveyors spend 10 minutes listening silently for target species. Each route is monitored at least once per year during the month of June, 1 hour before sunrise or at sunset. It is our hope that this survey will provide critical information about the population trends of, and habitat use of, some high elevation birds across Atlantic Canada.

Wanted: Volunteers 

Benefits: Beautiful scenery including sunrises and/or sunsets, melodic birds. 

For more information, contact:

Greg Campbell
Bird Studies Canada - Atlantic Region
P.O. Box 6227, 17 Waterfowl Lane
Sackville, NB E4L 1G6
Phone: (506) 364-5025
Fax: (506) 364-5062
E-mail: gcampbell@bsc-eoc.org

For more information on the natural history of the Bicknell's Thrush, visit Environment Canada's Bicknell's Thrush web page: www.ns.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/bicknells_thrush/e/index.html