By Dr. Matthew Fuirst and Stu Mackenzie
The Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) is a collaborative initiative of bird observatories across Canada, Birds Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The CMMN provides vital long-term information on demographics and population trends for more than 200 bird species and contributes scientific data that advances the understanding of birds and other aspects of natural history in Canada. Observatories across Canada also provide essential training and education opportunities to aspiring ornithologists, naturalists and the public, increasing their knowledge and understanding of Canadian birds and their conservation.
This November, Long Point Bird Observatory had the honour of hosting the first in-person reunion of the network since 2018. Over 60 participants from 22 bird observatories including staff and board members, researchers, volunteers and collaborators descended on Long Point for three days of inspiring and rejuvenating collaborative engagement, research presentations, and important discussions related to the operation of bird observatories and optimal use of migration monitoring data. Research topics covered during the meeting provide a helpful synopsis of the breadth of work of the CMMN:
- Demographic trends for the Boreal Owl in eastern North America by Dr. Alexandre Terrigeol, Observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac
- Beyond the census and ET: Exploring other aspects of Migration Monitoring by Dr. Geoff Holroyd, Beaverhill Bird Observatory
- Collaborative Research at the Boreal Avian Modelling Centre – patterns of birds in relation to forest fires by Ted Cheskey, Nature Canada and Rachel Isolade Lane Shaw
- Motus on the Move – Steps to enhance CMMN’s involvement in Migration Research by Dr. Jessica Deakin, Birds Canada – Motus Team
- Leveraging Birds Observatories for the Birds of the World Database by Nicole Richardson, Birds Canada – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The group also engaged in discussions about bird safety, data collection methods, and updates from the Canadian Bird Banding Office. Each day was capped off with excellent keynote presentations by Dr. Dan Riskin, and Dr. Yolanda Morbey from Western University’s Centre for Animals on the Move!
To learn more about the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network or how to join and become a member station, please visit the CMMN website. By becoming a part of CMMN, research stations across Canada help increase our collective knowledge of migration ecology and ways to manage and conserve migratory species.
