The Common Nighthawk looks graceful in flight, and a bit strange up close due to its large eyes and wide mouth. But no matter how you look at it, this species is becoming a less-common sight. Breeding Bird Survey data suggest it has declined by 76% since 1973 in Canada, where it is now listed as a Threatened species.
To some, spending countless hours from May through August protecting an endangered, camouflaged bird, its four eggs, and its flightless chicks on the open sand – exposed to the elements and busy activities of beachgoers – would sound daunting, and perhaps a bit nuts. I’ve come to learn that cautious optimism and resilience are handy qualities for biologists and Citizen Scientists engaged in Piping Plover conservation.
This year, BioBlitz Canada 150 events are being held across the country. They have been organized by the Canadian Wildlife Federation with BioBlitz Canada and many other conservation partners, and were made possible by the Government of Canada as a Canada 150 Signature Project.
A bold research team, led by the University of Guelph and Bird Studies Canada, spread out across the boreal forest in June in an effort to recapture some very specific Blackpoll Warblers.
The Summer 2017 edition of BirdWatch Canada (No. 80) celebrates an exciting moment in the history of Long Point Bird Observatory: the banding of our millionth bird. Discover what it took to reach this significant milestone in our cover story, “The Road to One Million,” by Stu Mackenzie and Jon McCracken.
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is being used by numerous researchers and organizations to gain new knowledge about the movements of small songbirds, bats, and insects during breeding and migration, and on overwintering grounds.
Summer is a critical period for Common Loons. At this time, loons are incubating eggs and raising their vulnerable young. The results of Bird Studies Canada’s Canadian Lakes Loon Survey indicate that the number of chicks produced per loon pair has been decreasing over time. Help and respect from people during the breeding season is particularly important.
This month in the grasslands of southwestern Manitoba, Bird Studies Canada will be conducting surveys for grassland species at risk, including Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Sprague’s Pipit, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Baird’s Sparrow, and Bobolink. These surveys are part of a large collaboration under Environment and Climate Change Canada’s SARPAL program (Species At Risk Partnership on Agricultural Land).
Bird Studies Canada’s summer staff are supporting bird research and conservation through placements with our scientists. Find out what they’re up to in British Columbia, Ontario, and the Maritimes this year!
This past school year, thousands of students explored the world of birds with Bird Studies Canada. Our educational offerings include field trips to Long Point Bird Observatory, Virtual Ornithology distance learning programs, and Citizen Science at School opportunities.
