Congratulations to the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory (BPBO) on completing 20 years (2000-2019) of migration monitoring at the
Cabot Head Research Station on the northeastern tip of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. Under an agreement with Ontario Parks to use the abandoned cottages in the Cabot Head Nature Reserve, BPBO began the first season of migration monitoring on April 1, 2000 with Audrey Heagy as Bander-in-Charge. Highly experienced visitors in our first year included "the Davids" - David Hussell, Dave Brewer, Dave Okines and David Shepherd who shared wisdom, knowledge (and occasional bits of nonsense). BPBO has been fortunate to have the following banders-in-charge: Audrey Heagy - spring/fall 2000, spring 2001 Rainer Ebel - fall 2001 Daniel Derbyshire - spring/fall 2002 Stephane Menu - 2003-2012 & 2014-present Andrew Jackson - 2013 The founding board consisted of: President - Cindy Cartwright Vice-president - Rod Steinacher Directors - Ted Cheskey, Brad Johnson, Ethan Meleg, Mark Wierzinski Treasurer - Marion Mosolf Along with developing the banding protocol, running the station and training new banders, Audrey guided me through the application process resulting in BPBO receiving Charitable Status in early 2001. The observatory name was compliments of Mark Wierzinski. Passerines and saw-whet owls have been banded in spring and fall annually since 2000. Additional special projects such as spring red-necked grebe surveys and the erection of a Motus tower have been conducted over the years. Slight modifications made to the protocol in 2002 allowed BPBO to become a full member of CMMN. And the original banding lab, formerly the converted pump house, has been replaced with a new building. Much has been accomplished. Although I haven't been involved in recent years due to hummingbirds and other projects, it's great to see BPBO reach this 20 year milestone. Cindy Cartwright Bruce Peninsula, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
