[Ontbirds] Marsh Monitoring Program Survey Contractor(s) Needed
Bird Studies Canada seeks one or more qualified individuals to conduct bird and amphibian (frog and toad) surveys in Niagara region marshes using Marsh Monitoring Program standard survey protocols. This contract is for approximately 56 hours of work between April 1, 2010 and July 31, 2010. Work tasks include attending a 3-hour protocol training meeting with Bird Studies Canada staff, locating/establishing and georeferencing survey stations using GPS, conducting amphibian and marsh bird surveys where required, recording basic descriptions of marsh habitat where required, and submitting data on provided forms to Bird Studies Canada by July 31, 2010. Surveys will occur at seven distinct marsh sites within the Niagara Peninsula (see link below). Marsh bird surveys will occur during early morning and/or evening hours; amphibian surveys will occur following sunset. Boat/canoe access will be required for 1-2 marshes, while others can be accessed on foot. Survey materials (e.g., survey forms, MMP bird call broadcast CD, protocol instruction manuals) will be provided. Participation with a partner/assistant is strongly recommended. Eligible candidates must be able to identify marsh bird species by sight and sound, and be able to identify frog and toad species by sound; must be comfortable walking near or around marsh habitats; must have access to, and skills required to use, personal watercraft (e.g., canoe, kayak); must provide own binoculars; and must be available to conduct surveys when date and weather/temperature conditions are appropriate. This contract will pay at a rate of $20/hour, with some money available to reimburse travel costs. For additional information, please contact Ryan Archer Aquatic Survey Programs Coordinator Bird Studies Canada 1-888-448-2473 ext. 168 (toll-free) rarc...@birdscanada.orgmailto:rarc...@birdscanada.org Click here to see marsh site locations: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTFmsa=0msid=111324856696258176569.0004819d298bf6deba191. For more information about the Marsh Monitoring Program, click here: http://www.birdscanada.org/mmpmain.html. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Early Turkey Vulture
Monday March 15 th I saw a Turkey Vulture along the beach at Bayfield. It was also there yesterday, cruising along the shoreline by the pier. Just off the pier, in amongst some Common Mergansers, was what looked to be a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Antony John ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Ring-necked Ducks at G. Ross Lord
I was driving south on Dufferin St this afternoon and made a quick stop at G. Ross Lord Park. On the flooded reservoir there were two male Ring-necked Ducks. G Ross Lord Park is on the east side of Dufferin St approximately a mile north of Sheppard Ave. Bob Cumming Home ph. (416) 92 60944 Cell ph. (647) 248 2879 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Ring-necked Ducks and Others at Reesor Pond
Hi all. Reesor Pond late this morning produced a pair of male Ring-necked Ducks, several pairs of Northern Pintails, good numbers of Common and Hooded Mergansers, several Common Goldeneye, a pair of American Black Ducks, a Killdeer, a Trumpeter, and a few other nice sights, including a handful of Cackling Geese among the many Canadas. And wasn't the weather splendid! Good birding, Skip Reesor Pond is on the west side of Reesor Road in Markham, a little north of Steeles, and just above the 407. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Ring-necked Ducks north of Hillsburgh
This evening in the flooded field at the south west corner of Dufferin County 3 and 16th Line E. Garafraxa, there were a number of Ring-necked Ducks along with the many Pintails, Canada Geese and swans. Watch for Horned larks in the corn stubble. Good birding. Paloma Plant. __ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Help needed for monitoring study!
Dear Ontario birdwatchers, I am a Master's student at York University and I am attempting to collect birdwatcher records for my research. In my work, I hope to show that birder data has been underutilized in protected area monitoring, and I am looking for birdwatcher's notes to support this idea. In particular, I am looking for individual observations of wood thrushes and yellow breasted chats at Point Pelee National Park between 1995-2005. Any other information as to where these two species were sighted in those years would be great as well. I believe that birders have a lot to offer to ecological integrity monitoring programs in our national parks, and I'm hoping to show they possess expertise that is difficult to replicate with scientific projects. Please contact me if you can help! Sincerely, Emily Rondel MES Candidate 2010. (416) 994-7941 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] More Eastern Ontario Snow Geese
I work for the South Nation Conservation Authority in Finch and I was fortunate enough to be traveling the roads yesterday west towards the Spencerville region. Large migrating flocks of white geese were observed throughout the day in numbers that parallel previous reports. These flocks were observed all along the Highway 43 corridor and all lands south. Large flocks were observed on the ground in the Finch, Chesterville, Winchester and Brinston areas. None were observed this morning however along my travels, yet... Josh Mansell _ Live connected with Messenger on your phone http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712958___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] American Woodcock Singing ground Survey
The American Woodcock Singing-ground Survey is a bi-national monitoring program that provides an index of the relative size of the woodcock breeding population in North America. It is the most important source of data used to guide federal, state and provincial woodcock programs. Bird Studies Canada has recently taken on the role of coordinating the Ontario portion of this survey, and we are looking for volunteers interested in surveying assigned routes throughout the province. Each route consists of a single sunset survey of 10 stops where the participant will count the numbers of individuals observed using the vocal courtship displays, or peents. Monitoring will occur between April 15 and May 20 (the actual monitoring window will depend on where in Ontario you live). Routes have already been selected and will be assigned according to availability and the geographic location of the participant. We are looking for surveyors for a wide range of areas in Ontario, including Algoma, Sudbury and Rainy River districts in the north and Bruce, Frontenac, Grey, Huron, Lambton, Leeds-Grenville counties in the south. For a detailed list of available routes please contact, please contact Elisabeth van Stam at evans...@bsc-eoc.orgmailto:evans...@bsc-eoc.org. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] HSR: Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (17 Mar 2010) 96 Raptors
Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2010 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 36 42 42 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 2 16 16 Northern Harrier 4 6 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 11 11 Cooper's Hawk4 17 17 Northern Goshawk 0 3 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 10 10 11 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 34189191 Rough-legged Hawk0 3 3 Golden Eagle 3 3 3 American Kestrel 0 3 3 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter0 1 1 Unknown Buteo0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 96308311 -- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter:Sandra Horvath Observers:Charles Liddle, Colin Horstead, Frank Horvath, Keith Sealy, Mike Kirchin, Norman Schipper, Peter Booker, Phil Waggett, Tim King, Tom Thomas Visitors: Charles Liddle, Floyd Smith, Robert Stamp, Dave Sked, Kevin McLaughlin, Jon Niewiadonski and nephew Nicky, Mike Kirchin, Mike Street, and many others. Other observers - Clive Hodder, Kieth Sealy, Peter Booker, Norman Schipper, Barry Cherrier and Brandon Holden. Weather: Blue Sky day with warm temperatures and light winds. Raptor Observations: Due to the cloudless sky and light winds the raptors were generally flying very high and difficult to spot. Non-raptor Observations: Mid afternoon rewarded those who stayed the day with 5 Eagles...2 adult Bald Eagles flew over, one at 3pm EST, another at 3:40 EST., and within a 5 minute span of time, at 3:45-3:50 pm, 3 mature Golden Eagles flew over and 2 circled the field offering a beautiful sunkissed view to the delight of all those watching. A real 'WOW' event. Report submitted by Sandra Horvath () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/ Site Description: The hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). The counting is all 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 the cold days of 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 publically 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 the day�s observations 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. Photos courtesy of Mike Street and Barry Cherriere Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 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. © 2010 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch
[Ontbirds] Greater White-fronted Goose, Ottawa ON, Greenbank Road
Around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, March 17th, four friends and I saw a Greater White-fronted Goose in a flooded field on the West side of Greenbank Road, South of Hunt Club Road. It was with a flock of Canada Geese. A Northern Pintail was also observed at the same location. Connie Denyes Ottawa ON Directions courtesy of NeilyWorld Birding (http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/stony15.htm): From Highway 416 take exit 72 (West Hunt Club Road). If northbound, the 0.2 km offramp brings you to Cedarview Road, where you will turn right or SSE onto it and go 0.2 km SSE to West Hunt Club Road, where you will turn left or northeast. If southbound, a 0.4 km offramp dumps onto West Hunt Club Road, where you will turn left or northeast and in 0.4 km join the northbound offramp traffic. Both groups will now follow West Hunt Club Road northeast for an additional 2.0 km to reach Greenbank Road. Turn right or SSE onto Greenbank...and look for the flooded fields on the west side. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
