The main objective of the Canadian Migration
Monitoring Network (CMMN) is to monitor bird species that are not
being adequately monitored by other programs, such as the Breeding
Bird Survey and Christmas Bird Count. Migration monitoring may be an
effective means of monitoring species that nest in remote northern
areas of Canada, species whose habitat is rarely sampled by roadside
surveys and species that are otherwise difficult to detect during the
breeding season. Data from 19 CMMN stations or sites in five
geographic regions (British Columbia, Prairies, Great Lakes, St.
Lawrence, and Atlantic Coast) were analyzed to determine which
priority species were being monitored and to identify gaps in coverage
by the CMMN.
At the national level, the CMMN is covering most of
the species designated as targets for migration monitoring. Only 14 of
108 priority species are definitely not being monitored by any of the
CMMN stations. However, there are likely other species that are not
being adequately monitored because coverage consists mainly of local
resident breeders or because they are considered unsuitable candidates
for migration monitoring. At the regional level, there are many gaps
in species coverage. 52% of priority species are being potentially
monitored in British Columbia, 69% in the prairies, 94% in the Great
Lakes region, 74% in the St. Lawrence region, and only 57% in the
Atlantic Coast region. However, additional stations are being
developed in both British Columbia and the Atlantic region, which may
improve coverage.
For full details on which species are currently
being monitored at each station, download a copy of the complete
report in a format suitable for printing. For further information on
the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, with descriptions of each
of the stations, check the CMMN web
page.
Download the
Full Report (343 K PDF File; Adobe Acrobat Reader Required)
