Anyways, Ken will have more details but here is a phone-scoped shot he got of it:
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Brown Booby at Long Point!!!
This is Mike reporting for Ken...this morning while sitting in "the shanty" (classic lake watching shelter at the tip) at the Tip of Long Point Ken and the other birders there were lucky enough to see a BROWN BOOBY almost fly into them and flyover their shelter. The bird then headed NE and eventually joined a feeding frency about 1km off the tip. They got to observe the bird doing several plunge dives! Presumably this is THE Niagara River Brown Booby. Maybe it has been out in the middle of Lake Erie all this time, or maybe just the fewer birders going looking for it haven't turned it up...
Anyways, Ken will have more details but here is a phone-scoped shot he got of it:
And here's another shot, this was taken when the bird flew by within 20ft of them (this is a cell phone shot of his camera's screen:
Anyways, Ken will have more details but here is a phone-scoped shot he got of it:
Monday, September 9, 2013
Brown Pelican
Here's some pics from last month while I was down in the Kingsville area.
Random drake Canvasback at the Kingsville marina (August 15th). My first August Ontario Canvasback.
Second-year Brown Pelican, August 16-20, at the Wheatley Harbour.
Random drake Canvasback at the Kingsville marina (August 15th). My first August Ontario Canvasback.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
SNEGs....
Ok, so I'm at work, working on an EIS report, I've got my MES defense next week--things aren't too busy....! Not. (By the way that was a Borat style joke....).
Ok, but from things aside, life is manageable (somewhat). Anywho, Snowy Egrets. They're pretty cool. Pretty rare. I've only seen two birds and I chased both! A few colleagues/friends (whatever you want to say) are down in the Leamington/Tilbury area working (I was down there 2 weeks ago....) and found a few Snowy Egrets.
The 1 bird at the Tilbury lagoons is still around (found on the 2nd, seen today, the 4th). And last week on the 28th, they had 2 birds fly out of the Thames River, a location I've continuously checked for rare herons/gulls/waterbirds, but have come up empty handed. Despite this, Lighthouse Cove (mouth of the Thames River) seems like a pretty awesome spot that will likely turn up alot of crazy and good shit, if its checked!
I don't really have too much new bird news, but thought I would share some things about the Tilbury area, that most people don't really know(?). This area seems like a really great location for rare herons/gulls/waterbirds. Lots of water, lots of ditches, a biggish lake nearby (Lake St. Clair), a pristine (Thames) river.....(NOT -> Borat style) and a decent lagoon (Tilbury).
Here's a print screen of the Tilbury area - if only someone had a chopper and would cruise all the nooks and cranny's for all the Snowy Egrets and Little Blues!
And with quite a number of SNEG's being seen in areas nearby to Lake St. Clair, rare herons are a species group that likely show up in 'decent' numbers and frequency in this area -- too bad there aren't more observers!
This area has also had several other rare herons, like Little Blue Heron showing up infrequently too, but a place like Lighthouse Cove is ripe for a mega (dare I say Black Skimmer? Least Tern? Royal Tern?).
Ok, but from things aside, life is manageable (somewhat). Anywho, Snowy Egrets. They're pretty cool. Pretty rare. I've only seen two birds and I chased both! A few colleagues/friends (whatever you want to say) are down in the Leamington/Tilbury area working (I was down there 2 weeks ago....) and found a few Snowy Egrets.
The 1 bird at the Tilbury lagoons is still around (found on the 2nd, seen today, the 4th). And last week on the 28th, they had 2 birds fly out of the Thames River, a location I've continuously checked for rare herons/gulls/waterbirds, but have come up empty handed. Despite this, Lighthouse Cove (mouth of the Thames River) seems like a pretty awesome spot that will likely turn up alot of crazy and good shit, if its checked!
I don't really have too much new bird news, but thought I would share some things about the Tilbury area, that most people don't really know(?). This area seems like a really great location for rare herons/gulls/waterbirds. Lots of water, lots of ditches, a biggish lake nearby (Lake St. Clair), a pristine (Thames) river.....(NOT -> Borat style) and a decent lagoon (Tilbury).
Here's a print screen of the Tilbury area - if only someone had a chopper and would cruise all the nooks and cranny's for all the Snowy Egrets and Little Blues!
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| I saw my first SNEG in Ontario along the Thames near Bradley in 2011.... |
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| Pat Deacon's shot of the Snowy from the 2nd at Tilbury! |
This area has also had several other rare herons, like Little Blue Heron showing up infrequently too, but a place like Lighthouse Cove is ripe for a mega (dare I say Black Skimmer? Least Tern? Royal Tern?).
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Prothonotary Warblers
They're my favourite bird, by a pretty wide-margin.I saw my first one, a male at Bannister Lake on May 17, 1997. Bannister Lake is in the south end of Cambridge, so this bird was basically our first 'rarity'. It was also one of the prettiest birds I had ever seen. The bird cooperated so nicely; we were standing on the top of an observation tower, and the bird was literally 10 feet away, at our eye level (on top of the tower). It really stuck with me.
So much so, that I contacted Bird Studies Canada in March/April 1999 about volunteering for the recovery team (in the meantime I had launched myself into reading as much information as I could get on the species, particularly in Ontario). Jon McCracken was the chair of the recovery team and he gave me a some more information, as well as the blue prints for building nest boxes. Dad and I built about 10 at the wood working shop at the school he taught in after hours... :) It was pretty fun. We still joke about seeing some of our nest boxes at Rondeau, where they were being erected.
We also got to go on some nest box rounds with Jon through Backus Woods, just north of Long Point, checking on some of the pairs nesting. I think we saw 10 in one day! As well as our first Acadian Flycatchers, it was pretty cool, and I was hooked.
I've always had a sweet spot for Prothons. I make a special effort to see them wherever I go. There population has really fluctuated while I've been birding, with the population being from 7-25 pairs. I believe this year there are 13 pairs in the province (though it may be closer to 10), though the western Lake Erie basic likely has ~30 pairs (that might be abit high), mostly in Ohio.
Anyways, just thought I'd do a different style of post - haven't been birding too much (though this will be changing!)
Mike captured the male at Fish Point singing his heart out here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrgbkJIIQrs
So much so, that I contacted Bird Studies Canada in March/April 1999 about volunteering for the recovery team (in the meantime I had launched myself into reading as much information as I could get on the species, particularly in Ontario). Jon McCracken was the chair of the recovery team and he gave me a some more information, as well as the blue prints for building nest boxes. Dad and I built about 10 at the wood working shop at the school he taught in after hours... :) It was pretty fun. We still joke about seeing some of our nest boxes at Rondeau, where they were being erected.
We also got to go on some nest box rounds with Jon through Backus Woods, just north of Long Point, checking on some of the pairs nesting. I think we saw 10 in one day! As well as our first Acadian Flycatchers, it was pretty cool, and I was hooked.
I've always had a sweet spot for Prothons. I make a special effort to see them wherever I go. There population has really fluctuated while I've been birding, with the population being from 7-25 pairs. I believe this year there are 13 pairs in the province (though it may be closer to 10), though the western Lake Erie basic likely has ~30 pairs (that might be abit high), mostly in Ohio.
Anyways, just thought I'd do a different style of post - haven't been birding too much (though this will be changing!)
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| Female Prothonotary, Old Cut, May 19, 2002. |
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| Male Prothonotary, Rondeau, May 3, 2008. |
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| Male Prothonotary coming out of nest box (looks weird!), Holiday Beach CA, May 11, 2009. |
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| Male Prothonotary (this was the first year a male was on territory here, in recent years), Fish Point, May 19, 2010. |
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| Male Prothonotary (likely the same bird in 2010), Fish Point, May 2011. |
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| Same bird as above. |
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| Male Prothonotary, Fish Point, May 12, 2013. |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrgbkJIIQrs
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Reverse migration....aka my thesis!
Well after almost 2 years working towards my Master's and another year before that for my undergrad thesis I have finally finished my thesis on reverse migration!
Brandon has done a nice photo essay capturing reverse migrants with his photography, so check out his blog for more pics.
I've pasted my abstract below for your enjoyment....
*********************************************************************************** Abstract
The spring reverse migration of songbirds (i.e., birds flying in the direction opposite to be expected), within the Great Lakes region is controversial because it is not understood if the extent or reversal of flight direction in spring is truly a change in migratory patterns or a brief anomaly. It is also not clear what the fitness and community level impacts are. My objective was to determine what and how weather influences reverse migration and to determine which species and families of birds participate the most frequently in this form of flight. I examined species which are participatory (and those that are not) as well as the impacts of specific weather covariates on the abundance of songbirds and focused on the putative reverse migration of passerines.
Field sites were located at the extreme southern tip of Fish Point, Pelee Island (2010-2012) and Point Pelee National Park (2012), where my field assistant and I visually recorded the total number of birds observed to be reverse migrating, while identifying all birds to species or family as best possible. This study was conducted over 97 days during April 26 – May 20, in 2010-2012. Information pertaining to potential reverse migration has only been formally documented twice in the Great Lakes region, most recently in 1951.
I undertook a descriptive analysis to compare the numbers of individuals of bird species and families. Temperate and neotropical migrants were examined, compared and divided into sub-sets based on their geographic ranges. I identified species at risk which I observed during reverse migrations as well as vagrants. Based on provincial population estimates, I determined the proportion of all reverse migrants where ≥200 individuals were observed. A descriptive analysis was undertaken to determine differences between sites (i.e., Point Pelee and Fish Point) in the final year of surveys (2012). Species and abundance were comparatively differentiated between each site location and subsequently compared.
A total of 61,677 birds of 80 species was documented. My results indicate temperate migrants vastly
outnumbered neotropical migrants (as much as 4:1) and numbers of birds varied between study sites. Temperate migrants were noted to be more common (in the final study year) at Point Pelee compared to Fish Point, while neotropical migrants were more numerous at Fish Point than Point Pelee. Despite most migrant species participating in reverse migrations (i.e., of the species regularly occurring in the Pelee region at this time of year), complete absences were noted most notably in Catharus thrushes, while species such as Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Scarlet Tanager, and families such as Tyrant Flycatchers, Vireos and Sparrows were observed to be in less abundance than anticipated. Species at risk and vagrants were noted relatively frequently during this study, suggesting that these surveys are an efficient and important tool for migration monitoring in this region. Disproportionally diurnal migrants, most notably Blackbirds, were observed to engage in reverse migration in higher numbers than nocturnal migrants, such as Wood Warblers.
Seven weather covariates were measured and modeled with the total number of birds detected using R to
determine which covariates explain the most amount of variation of the total number of birds during my surveys. I used an AICc approach to select the best model for each hypothesis. After selecting the top weather covariates with time lags according to the best (lowest) AICc values, I built general models by comparing all possible combinations of the covariates identified in the top models for each hypothesis. I included a random effect intercept for study site to discern any site difference or correlations between Point Pelee and Fish Point and specified a Poisson distribution (log link function as implemented in the LMER package) due to the data set being continuous (time-series) and count oriented.
My adjusted time lag results show that most migrants tend to migrate during and ahead of inclement weather. I also found that all identified covariates influence reverse migration to some degree. Wind direction and barometric pressure were the most significant of the covariates examined (β = 0.718 and -0.213, respectively). Specifically, wind direction is the most important covariate in explaining reverse migration, with days of south winds dramatically increasing the probability of higher numbers of birds during surveys. Low barometric pressure is also important for explaining the number of observed reverse migrants; therefore days with lower barometric pressure have a greater likelihood of increased bird observations.
Based on my observations and results I theorized that while reverse migration pertains to a distinct form of flight, it is likely not an actual form of migration. This form of flight in its simplest is likely a form of re-orientation, whereby migratory passerines take advantage of local weather conditions by flying south extended distances. I anticipate this form of flight has serious repercussions on the fitness levels and life cycles of migratory passerines.
Studies looking at reverse migration provide a useful tool for migration monitoring, particularly on an underexplored phenomenon. Observations of thousands of birds, many of which are either species at risk or vagrants, in an efficient manner are vital for determining population trends related to migratory birds. Continuing this study will allow for a continual monitoring program to assess songbird populations passing through the lower Great Lakes region. Understanding the impacts of climate and climate change on migratory songbirds is another aspect this study will help to address in the future.
**********************************************************************************
And for shits and giggles, I've put some of the pics I really like from Pelee Island....
Brandon has done a nice photo essay capturing reverse migrants with his photography, so check out his blog for more pics.
I've pasted my abstract below for your enjoyment....
*********************************************************************************** Abstract
The spring reverse migration of songbirds (i.e., birds flying in the direction opposite to be expected), within the Great Lakes region is controversial because it is not understood if the extent or reversal of flight direction in spring is truly a change in migratory patterns or a brief anomaly. It is also not clear what the fitness and community level impacts are. My objective was to determine what and how weather influences reverse migration and to determine which species and families of birds participate the most frequently in this form of flight. I examined species which are participatory (and those that are not) as well as the impacts of specific weather covariates on the abundance of songbirds and focused on the putative reverse migration of passerines.
Field sites were located at the extreme southern tip of Fish Point, Pelee Island (2010-2012) and Point Pelee National Park (2012), where my field assistant and I visually recorded the total number of birds observed to be reverse migrating, while identifying all birds to species or family as best possible. This study was conducted over 97 days during April 26 – May 20, in 2010-2012. Information pertaining to potential reverse migration has only been formally documented twice in the Great Lakes region, most recently in 1951.
I undertook a descriptive analysis to compare the numbers of individuals of bird species and families. Temperate and neotropical migrants were examined, compared and divided into sub-sets based on their geographic ranges. I identified species at risk which I observed during reverse migrations as well as vagrants. Based on provincial population estimates, I determined the proportion of all reverse migrants where ≥200 individuals were observed. A descriptive analysis was undertaken to determine differences between sites (i.e., Point Pelee and Fish Point) in the final year of surveys (2012). Species and abundance were comparatively differentiated between each site location and subsequently compared.
A total of 61,677 birds of 80 species was documented. My results indicate temperate migrants vastly
outnumbered neotropical migrants (as much as 4:1) and numbers of birds varied between study sites. Temperate migrants were noted to be more common (in the final study year) at Point Pelee compared to Fish Point, while neotropical migrants were more numerous at Fish Point than Point Pelee. Despite most migrant species participating in reverse migrations (i.e., of the species regularly occurring in the Pelee region at this time of year), complete absences were noted most notably in Catharus thrushes, while species such as Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Scarlet Tanager, and families such as Tyrant Flycatchers, Vireos and Sparrows were observed to be in less abundance than anticipated. Species at risk and vagrants were noted relatively frequently during this study, suggesting that these surveys are an efficient and important tool for migration monitoring in this region. Disproportionally diurnal migrants, most notably Blackbirds, were observed to engage in reverse migration in higher numbers than nocturnal migrants, such as Wood Warblers.
Seven weather covariates were measured and modeled with the total number of birds detected using R to
determine which covariates explain the most amount of variation of the total number of birds during my surveys. I used an AICc approach to select the best model for each hypothesis. After selecting the top weather covariates with time lags according to the best (lowest) AICc values, I built general models by comparing all possible combinations of the covariates identified in the top models for each hypothesis. I included a random effect intercept for study site to discern any site difference or correlations between Point Pelee and Fish Point and specified a Poisson distribution (log link function as implemented in the LMER package) due to the data set being continuous (time-series) and count oriented.
My adjusted time lag results show that most migrants tend to migrate during and ahead of inclement weather. I also found that all identified covariates influence reverse migration to some degree. Wind direction and barometric pressure were the most significant of the covariates examined (β = 0.718 and -0.213, respectively). Specifically, wind direction is the most important covariate in explaining reverse migration, with days of south winds dramatically increasing the probability of higher numbers of birds during surveys. Low barometric pressure is also important for explaining the number of observed reverse migrants; therefore days with lower barometric pressure have a greater likelihood of increased bird observations.
Based on my observations and results I theorized that while reverse migration pertains to a distinct form of flight, it is likely not an actual form of migration. This form of flight in its simplest is likely a form of re-orientation, whereby migratory passerines take advantage of local weather conditions by flying south extended distances. I anticipate this form of flight has serious repercussions on the fitness levels and life cycles of migratory passerines.
Studies looking at reverse migration provide a useful tool for migration monitoring, particularly on an underexplored phenomenon. Observations of thousands of birds, many of which are either species at risk or vagrants, in an efficient manner are vital for determining population trends related to migratory birds. Continuing this study will allow for a continual monitoring program to assess songbird populations passing through the lower Great Lakes region. Understanding the impacts of climate and climate change on migratory songbirds is another aspect this study will help to address in the future.
**********************************************************************************
And for shits and giggles, I've put some of the pics I really like from Pelee Island....
 |
| Any guesses as to what species this is????? Hint: its rare! Copyright Graeme Gibson. |
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| Blue-winged Warbler - Fish Point - May 2012, Copyright Brandon Holden. |
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| male Dickcissel, Fish Point, May 3, 2012. Brandon Holden |
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| male Golden-winged Warbler, Fish Point, May 3, 2012. Brandon Holden. |
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| female Prothonotary Warbler, May 3, 2012. Brandon Holden. |
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| Willets, Pelee Island, May 2012. |
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| adult basic Laughing Gull, West Dock, July 2011. |
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| Henslow's Sparrow, Sheridan's Point, May 6, 2011. Copyright Scott Hulme. |
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| adult male Summer Tanager, Stone Road Alvar, April 28, 2011. |
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| Likely one of my favourite pics of all time. If you don't know what this is, look it up! :) |
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| male Canada Warbler, Fish Point, May 2011. |
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| sunrise at Fish Point! :) |
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| No post about Pelee Island would be complete without the picture of the Burrowing Owl Mike and I found in 2008!!! |
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Random stuff from the spring
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| Snowy Egret, near Port Hope, late April 2013 |
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| Lark Sparrow, Erieau, April 26th |
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| 24 Willets, Pelee Island, April 28th |
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| male Prothonotary Warbler, Fish Point, Pelee Island, mid-May 2013 |
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| Hudsonian Godwit, Rainy River (Harris Hill), May 22, 2013 |
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| Brewer's Blackbird, Harris Hill, May 22, 2013 |
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| Yellow-headed Blackbird, Harris Hill, Rainy River, May 24, 2013 |
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| Western Meadowlark, Rainy River, May 25, 2013 |
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| American Bittern, Point Pelee NP near the Sparrow Field, early May 2013 |
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| Blue Grosbeak (first-alternate male), Pelee Island, May 9, 2013 |
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| Laughing Gull, Point Pelee NP Tip, May 5(?), 2013 |
Monday, July 8, 2013
Breeding Bird Surveys
Well, its been a bit since I last posted....things have been happening! Work, aka breeding bird season, as well as working on school (more on that shortly) have been hectic!
On the Canada Day long-weekend, My Dad and I went on a whirlwind trip up to Cochrane, conducting 2 BBS routes for Environment Canada and Bird Studies Canada. BSC, in partnership with CWS has an incentive program running, where participants conducting BBS routes in northern Ontario can claim up to $400/500 per route, IF they are willing to do the route(s) for at least 3 years (3 years is needed to enable CWS to analyze/compare the data you collect)! For more information, check out BSC's link: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/bbs/index.jsp?lang=EN&targetpg=index
The BBS is a North American run (led by the US Geological Survey and the CWS), roadside survey, used for monitoring bird populations. BBS routes are 40km in length. Participants are required to stop every 800m, listening for 3 minutes at each point count, recording every bird they hear within 400m. Basically for a birder, as well as someone who does breeding bird work for consulting firms this is the ultimate 'test', so to speak in engaging your auditory bird skills! :)
I signed up for two this year and have already agreed to a 3rd route next year! Our routes were located about 100km east of Cochrane and the other centred around the town of Matachewan.
Both sites were really different, but interesting in the different species we encountered.
The Cochrane site (Kabika Lake), was what you'd think of for the far northern boreal stuff, picking up most of the boreal breeders: Connecticut Warbler, Boreal Chickadee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Black-backed Woodpecker, Spruce Grouse, not too mention some surprising stuff like a E. Whip-poor Will and a Pine Warbler, both quite far north of their expected breeding ranges in northern Ontario.
To see a complete list of what we saw (cumulatively), click the link: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14538582
After doing the Kabika Lake BBS, we headed back into Cochrane. The drive from Cochrane took a while, since we were in my Dad's Toyota Camry, we had to go slow, since the roads weren't too great (but not that bad for logging roads!). After lunch we headed towards Matachewan, almost 300km from Kabika Lake!
Getting into Matachewan we scouted the route, before grabbing a place to stay (we camped along the road at our Kabika Lake site).
The Matachewan route was really good too, being very different from Kabika Lake. Warblers seemed to be present in higher diversity (and numbers), but we still had some boreal species, like Black-backed Woodpecker, Lincoln's Sparrows, but we were also getting species you think of for Central Ontario, like Black-throated Blue Warbler and lots and lots of Veeries!
Check out our ebird checklist for the route: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14549726
It was a pretty fun jaunt up north. We saw lots of birds, but also some cool wildlife....in total 5 Bears, and a short but sweet look at a Lynx, as well as good looks at a Wolf!
On the Canada Day long-weekend, My Dad and I went on a whirlwind trip up to Cochrane, conducting 2 BBS routes for Environment Canada and Bird Studies Canada. BSC, in partnership with CWS has an incentive program running, where participants conducting BBS routes in northern Ontario can claim up to $400/500 per route, IF they are willing to do the route(s) for at least 3 years (3 years is needed to enable CWS to analyze/compare the data you collect)! For more information, check out BSC's link: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/bbs/index.jsp?lang=EN&targetpg=index
The BBS is a North American run (led by the US Geological Survey and the CWS), roadside survey, used for monitoring bird populations. BBS routes are 40km in length. Participants are required to stop every 800m, listening for 3 minutes at each point count, recording every bird they hear within 400m. Basically for a birder, as well as someone who does breeding bird work for consulting firms this is the ultimate 'test', so to speak in engaging your auditory bird skills! :)
I signed up for two this year and have already agreed to a 3rd route next year! Our routes were located about 100km east of Cochrane and the other centred around the town of Matachewan.
Both sites were really different, but interesting in the different species we encountered.
The Cochrane site (Kabika Lake), was what you'd think of for the far northern boreal stuff, picking up most of the boreal breeders: Connecticut Warbler, Boreal Chickadee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Black-backed Woodpecker, Spruce Grouse, not too mention some surprising stuff like a E. Whip-poor Will and a Pine Warbler, both quite far north of their expected breeding ranges in northern Ontario.
To see a complete list of what we saw (cumulatively), click the link: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14538582
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| A pair of VERY territorial Great Yellowlegs, on the Kabika Lake BBS route, June 30, 2013. |
After doing the Kabika Lake BBS, we headed back into Cochrane. The drive from Cochrane took a while, since we were in my Dad's Toyota Camry, we had to go slow, since the roads weren't too great (but not that bad for logging roads!). After lunch we headed towards Matachewan, almost 300km from Kabika Lake!
Getting into Matachewan we scouted the route, before grabbing a place to stay (we camped along the road at our Kabika Lake site).
The Matachewan route was really good too, being very different from Kabika Lake. Warblers seemed to be present in higher diversity (and numbers), but we still had some boreal species, like Black-backed Woodpecker, Lincoln's Sparrows, but we were also getting species you think of for Central Ontario, like Black-throated Blue Warbler and lots and lots of Veeries!
 |
| Alder Flycatchers are relatively common in northern Ontario, depending on habitat |
Check out our ebird checklist for the route: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14549726
It was a pretty fun jaunt up north. We saw lots of birds, but also some cool wildlife....in total 5 Bears, and a short but sweet look at a Lynx, as well as good looks at a Wolf!
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