The October 2006 issue of OFO News, newsletter of the Ontario Field
Ornithologists, is in the mail. Here are the contents of this 16 page issue.
ARTICLES
1. Old and New English Names of Ontario Birds: Ron Pittaway discusses
the importance of using official bird names. He provides a list of
official spellings for frequently misspelled bird names, a list of
old names, and a list of suggested new names from the 2006 "Birds of
the World" checklist.
2. Birds, Husband, Kids - Do and Don't Tips for a Birding Spouse:
Cheryl Edgecombe tells about her passion for birds and describes the
many ingenious ways she manages family, work and birding. Cheryl
rarely misses a rare bird. Two photos: One of Cheryl and family, and
another birding with her son Ben.
3. French rabbit Wine Helps Loggerhead Shrike Recovery: Tamara Burns
recounts how French wine maker Jean-Charles Boisset and the LCBO
through its Natural Heritage Fund are helping to save the endangered
Eastern Loggerhead Shrike. Photo of the presentation giving a cheque
for $160,000 to Wildlife Preservation Canada for the recovery of the
Loggerhead Shrike.
4. OBRC Notes: Margaret Bain, OBRC Chair, gives an overview of recent
activities of the rarities committee. She stresses the importance of
documenting rare birds in the province. Photo of Margaret at the OBRC
display at the OFO Annual Convention in Ottawa.
5. Chimney Swift and Purple Martin - two small birds going in the
same direction: Mike Cadman and Peter Blancher discuss the Chimney
Swift and Purple Martin which are showing dramatic declines in
Ontario according to the atlas data. New analyses using atlas data
reveal not only the extent of the decline, but the pattern as well.
Article includes photo of Chimney Swift on nest and breeding distribution maps.
6. Sewage Lagoons, Shorebirds, Falcons and Wives: Ron Fleming
describes the birds and birding at his two favourite sewage lagoons
in York Region. He wonders about the impressions his wife and male
friends have about his birding at sewage lagoons.
7. Markham's Snider Marsh - A mini birding site guide: Stan Long
describes the birding opportunities in one of his favourite tiny
hidden hotspots in Markham just northeast of Toronto.
8. Book Review - Bird-watcher: Geoff Carpentier recommends this book
for beginning young birders and educators. It is full of tips
designed to stimulate ingenuity and creativity in young birders.
9. Changes to the AOU Check-list of North American Birds: Jim Rising,
Canadian member of the Committee of Classification and Nomenclature,
describes changes relevant to Canada in the 47th Supplement to the
AOU Check-list published recently in the Auk.
10. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario 2001-2005: Gregor Beck,
Chair of the Atlas Management Board, outlines the progress of
publishing Ontario's second Breeding Bird Atlas. Gregor describes
some changes in bird numbers and distribution. He explains that the
new atlas will be an essential tool in assessing how environmental
changes are affecting provincial bird populations. Publication date
in September 2007. There is a considerable saving if you order a copy
early at a special pre-sale price. See enclosed brochure with this issue.
11. Snyder's Great Horned Owl: Jean Iron and Erwin Meissner tell
about a nest of pale Great Horned Owls seen on the OFO trip to
Manitoulin Island. Photo of nest with one nestling by Erwin Meissner.
12. Spotting the American Kestrel - Easier than you thought: Derek
Lyon gives tips on finding kestrels and tells how to identify them using jizz.
ANNOUCEMENTS
A. OFO thanks retiring directors Sandra Eadie and Bob Falconer for
their service to OFO. Sandra coordinated the OFO Website for the past
six years and Bob handled the OFO Certificates of Appreciation for
three. OFO welcomes new directors John Black of St. Catharines and
Valerie Jacobs of Toronto. John and Valerie will share operation of
the OFO Website, and Valerie will coordinate the OFO Certificates of
Appreciation.
B. New Ontario Birds Editors: After 16 years as Editors of Ontario
Birds, Ron Tozer, Ron Pittaway, Bill Crins and Art Consultant
Christine Kerrigan are retiring with the December 2006 issue. The new
Editors are Ross James and Glenn Coady, Art Consultant is Barry Kent
MacKay, and Layout and Printing is Judie Shore.
C. New Publication - Birding at Point Pelee: A birder's history of
Canada's most famous birding spot by Henrietta O'Neill. Price is
$24.95. 224 pages with numerous photographs. Published by Lorimer and
distributed by Formac Distributing. Phone 1-800-565-1975 or email
<orderdesk AT formac DOT ca>.
D. Future Field Trips: Dave Milsom, Trips Coordinator, lists the next
six upcoming trips giving locations, dates, meeting times, leader
names, directions and target birds.
E. Renewing Your OFO Membership: Eleanor Beagan, Membership
Secretary, tells us that we have 1018 memberships including 124 life
members and 894 annual memberships. When we include all members at
one address, our membership is about 1300. Thanks to those who renew
in a timely manner. This spreads the work out and keeps mailing costs
down. Help keep the database current by sending change of information
to <etbeagan AT sympatico DOT ca>. Annual memberships expire on 31
December 2006. Check your membership status on the mailing label.
Please use the enclosed envelope to mail your renewal.
ENCLOSURES
(1) 2007 membership renewal form and return envelope. (2) Order form
to get the new Breeding Bird Atlas at a considerable discount. (3)
List of field trips for 2007 including names of leaders, locations,
dates, meeting times, target birds and contact information. (4) List
of OFO Board of Directors, Editors, Coordinators and Committee members.
We thank the authors, photographers and reviewers who contributed to
this issue.
Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway
OFO News Editors
Ontario Field Ornithologists
9 Lichen Place
Toronto ON M3A 1X3
416-445-9297
www.ofo.ca
