Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Project –Volunteers needed!
Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC) is looking for volunteer surveyors for the 2015 Adopt-A-Site program. We are looking for help in a number of shrike ‘hot-spots’ across Ontario (Carden, Grey-Bruce, Napanee, Manitoulin, Pembroke/Renfrew and Smiths Falls). The intent of the 2015 Adopt-A-Site program is to utilize volunteer efforts to locate shrikes throughout their breeding range in Ontario, and to record the presence of a subset of other important grassland birds utilizing similar habitat. Participants are asked to survey their designated sites 2 or 3 times over the spring and summer (April 15th to June 30th) for evidence of breeding birds. The information gathered on shrikes will be used to assist field staff with carrying out various recovery activities and provide valuable information contributing to accurate broad-scale population counts. Data gathered on other species will provide information on the abundance, distribution and diversity of grassland birds in key areas. The Loggerhead Shrike has suffered serious declines throughout its historic breeding range over the last 50 years. The *migrans* subspecies (or Eastern Loggerhead Shrike) has been designated as endangered in Canada since 1991, and was designated as endangered in Ontario in 1992. WPC has been leading the recovery efforts for this bird since 2003, and every year our field staff monitors the numbers and breeding success of wild birds, and breed birds in captivity to bolster the wild population. If you would like to take part in this year’s Adopt-A-Site surveys, or would like more information on the program, please contact: Stephanie Casutt, stephanieATwildlifepreservation.ca, (519)362-7062 Shrike Recovery Program Biologist Thanks in advance, from the whole Wildlife Preservation Canada team! -- http://wildlifepreservation.ca <http://wildlifepreservation.ca> On Thu, Mar 12, 2015 at 12:00 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Send ONTBIRDS mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdalert_ontbirds.ca > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of ONTBIRDS digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Tundra Swans (Ken Olmsted) > 2. Turkey Vultures (Michael Williamson) > 3. 2 Harlequin Ducks in OAKVILLE, Coot in Mississauga lakefront > Promenade (Luc Fazio) > 4. HSR: Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (11 Mar 2015) 10 > Raptors ([email protected]) > 5. Long Point Tundra Swans - Not Quite Yet (Ron Ridout) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:12:24 -0400 > From: Ken Olmsted <[email protected]> > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Subject: [Ontbirds] Tundra Swans > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > 2015.03.11 > > Tundra Swans have returned to Long Point. > > Sue and Ken Olmstead > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:18:34 -0700 > From: Michael Williamson <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Ontbirds] Turkey Vultures > Message-ID: > < > cajx3e3uxk-2unvkza87o_90dxjvi27x_26tefn4r6fhcui7...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hey Birders > I had 2 TV's today at Vic/Park and the 401 flight NE. Time 3:10 EDT. Spring > yes! > Sent from my Samsung Galaxy. > Cheers > Mike > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:53:22 -0400 > From: Luc Fazio <[email protected]> > To: OFO bird alerts hotline Ontbirds <[email protected]> > Subject: [Ontbirds] 2 Harlequin Ducks in OAKVILLE, Coot in Mississauga > lakefront Promenade > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Hi folks > 2 Harlequin Ducks , A male and an immature, at Gairloch Gardens on > Lakeshore Blvd in Oakville. They are less than 50 m off SE CORNER of > Gardens. > 1 American Coot has joined the variety of ducks at Lakeside Promenade. SE > of Cawthra & Lakeshore Blvd in Mississauga, at the mouth of the Bay, with > many Redheads, Greater Scaups, White-winged Scoters, etc. etc. > 1 female Snowy Owl continues on boat moorings in Marina at lakeside > Promenade. > A streaming flock of American Crows (15) flew over the Promenade > Park...they are a few weeks late, but it is another indication of the > seasonal changes finally happening. > 1 Pileated Woodpecker, at Riverwood Park, NE OF Credit River north of > Burnhamthorpe. On the yellow trail 250 m from main parking lot, near double > rows of tall planted evergreens at the bottom of first hill. > Other obvious migrants all over... Song Sparrow, Am. Robins, Common > Grackle,.. > Enjoy...get out. Nature awaits... > > Luc Fazio > > > Sent from my iPad > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: 11 Mar 2015 22:03:50 -0400 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Ontbirds] HSR: Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (11 > Mar 2015) 10 Raptors > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > > > Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area > Grimsby, Ontario, Canada > Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 11, 2015 > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total > ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- > Black Vulture 0 0 0 > Turkey Vulture 2 4 4 > Osprey 0 0 0 > Bald Eagle 0 5 5 > Northern Harrier 0 0 0 > Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 2 2 > Cooper's Hawk 2 3 3 > Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 > Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 > Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 > Red-tailed Hawk 4 14 14 > Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 3 > Golden Eagle 0 0 0 > American Kestrel 0 0 0 > Merlin 0 1 1 > Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 > Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 > Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 > Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 > Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 > Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 > > Total: 10 32 32 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Observation start time: 08:00:00 > Observation end time: 17:00:00 > Total observation time: 9 hours > > Official Counter: Gord Kozak > > Observers: > > Visitors: > Ray Miller, Tom Stirr, Lyle Jeakins, Dave Trumbec, Fred Belfinato, Brian > Ahara, Von Weatherson, Mantey Banha, > > > Weather: > LOTS OF sunshine, no cloud coverage so visibility was very good with the > white snow below. Wind direction was from the west all day, with the higher > birds struggling in it. > > Raptor Observations: > A mature Bald Eagle flew over at about 2:00 P.M. and gave us a great look > at. It did have problems with the west wind and circled over us a couple of > times. A sharp-shinned Hawk (a female) gave us a good look as it flew > overhead and close to the viewing stand. > > Non-raptor Observations: > At the feeder in the early part of the morning a white-crowned Sparrow was > feeding and hanging out with the Dark-eyed Juncos. > > Predictions: > If the milder weather continues, larger numbers of birds will start showing > up. hopefully the wind direction changes. > ======================================================================== > Report submitted by () > Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: > http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ > > > Site Description: > Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in > Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All > counting is done by volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a > counter have to be a member. Typically one person is the designated counter > for each day but other observers present assist with the spotting and > identification. Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a > wooden floor. For wind protection on cold days, particularly in March, a > black plastic wind guard is installed around the tower's platform. This > platform easily accommodates ten people but on most busy days, no more than > five or six observers would be on it. > > > > The site lies within a publicly accessible property owned by the Niagara > Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. The > tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the > outer edge. This provides lots of room to park vehicles (along the road) > and set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are > present. During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to > display seven day's worth of observation data for the public. The box > enclosing the sign contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public > as well as bulletin boards with news and historical sighting records. > > > > > > Directions to site: > To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 71/72, follow Christie > St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road > West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to > the conservation area. Parking is normally available inside the park. If > parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your > car. > > Please note: Data in this report is not official until reviewed and > finalized after the end of the season. © 2015 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2015 09:36:14 -0400 > From: Ron Ridout <[email protected]> > To: "Ontbirds ([email protected])" <[email protected]> > Subject: [Ontbirds] Long Point Tundra Swans - Not Quite Yet > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > In light of a few recent reports of Tundra Swans here at Long Point, I > took a tour of the local hangouts this morning to see what was happening. > My 50 km drive yielded about 75 Canada Geese and one Mallard. > > Of the few small flocks that have been seen or heard, none appear to have > stopped at Long Point. And for good reason. Long Point Bay and Lake Erie > are still solidly frozen. Even Big Creek, which opens first, looks like > it's several days away from opening. This weekend's predicted rain may help > push the melt along. > > Spring arrivals have been limited so far to a few small flocks of Redheads > flying west and a handful of Killdeer and American Robin sightings. Even > the Red-winged Blackbirds which are normally singing on territory by now > are almost non-existent. > > Each year, we are flooded with calls inquiring about the presence of swans > and many people drive some distance to view them here. While it is always > difficult to say when the flocks will arrive, I think it is safe to say > that this will not be the weekend to pay a visit. > > I know this isn't the normal report expected on Ontbirds but I don't want > anyone making a long, somewhat expensive drive down here based on a few > small flocks of birds passing through and not staying. > > When the first big push occurs, we will post here. > > > Ron Ridout > Bird Studies Canada > P.O. Box 160 > 115 Front Rd. > Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0 > 519-586-3531 Ext. 114 > [email protected] > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial > birding organization. > Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] > For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit > http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup > > ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at > http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide > > ------------------------------ > > End of ONTBIRDS Digest, Vol 133, Issue 12 > ***************************************** > -- Stephanie Casutt _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
