After a long period of preparation and anticipation, the 27th International Ornithological Congress and first-ever Vancouver International Bird Festival took place in Vancouver from August 19-26. Together, these events represented a formidable success for birds, ornithology, and conservation! Bird Studies Canada was proud to bring these events to life as a Co-host of the congress and Community Partner of the bird festival.
On September 13, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the creation of the Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area on Canada’s Pacific coast. The area is the first to be protected under the Canada Wildlife Act, and its establishment follows years of consultation with Indigenous Peoples, the government of British Columbia, and stakeholders.
Bird Studies Canada and Long Point Bird Observatory hosted six talented young naturalists for the 2018 Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop (YOW). This year’s participants included Linden Imeson (Waterloo, ON), Isaac Nelson (Kamloops, BC), Bridget Spencer (Vancouver, BC), Erik Van Den Kieboom (Owen Sound, ON), Eva Visscher (St. Thomas, ON), and Christopher Zayachkowski (Sault Ste. Marie, ON).
Want to learn about efforts to help species at risk in Ontario’s Carolinian forests? In a newly published report, you can discover what Bird Studies Canada is learning about these precious species and how landowners are working with us to conserve them through our Ontario Forest Birds at Risk Program (OFBAR).
The 2018 American Woodcock Population Status Report is now available. You can download it at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website. (Note: “Timberdoodle” is a colloquial name for the American Woodcock.)
On September 9th, Bird Studies Canada will celebrate the start of the 20th season of our British Columbia Coastal Waterbird Survey. This long-term Citizen Science monitoring program involves counting ducks, loons, grebes, gulls, and other waterbirds on the second Sunday of each month throughout the winter.
Bird Studies Canada has just completed another summer of surveys for grassland species at risk on private cattle ranches and provincial community pastures in Manitoba. We recorded over 500 sightings of species at risk, including Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Sprague’s Pipit, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Baird’s Sparrow, and Bobolink.
Thanks to a new publication supported in part by Bird Studies Canada, the world can discover some of Canada’s most fascinating bird species. Birds of Nunavut, edited by James M. Richards and Anthony J. Gaston and published by UBC Press, is the first complete survey of every species of bird known to occur in the territory of Nunavut.
It’s finally here! The first-ever Vancouver International Bird Festival kicks off August 19. If you’re in the area, come out and celebrate birds through art, poetry, comedy, roundtable discussions, talks, birding events, and more. There will be something for bird nerds and bird newbies of all ages.
June is a special month for me, marking two important things. First is my daughter’s birthday. Then – immediately following – is my annual trip to Baccalieu Island, Newfoundland, where I study the declining Leach’s Storm-Petrel with my friend and colleague Dr. April Hedd.
