Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Last Updated: September 1st 2010
Banding News
The October 2010 edition of Birder's World features a report in birdingbriefs of a record breaking female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. Bander Fred Dietrich of the Hummer/Bird Study Group of Clay, Alabama banded a second-year female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in Tallahassee, Florida on January 13, 2010. According to the report the bird stayed around the Florida backyard for a few weeks then disappeared. The next time it was found was on June 28, 2010 in a bander's net in Chenega Bay, Alaska - a distance of more than 3500 miles. This represents a new record for the longest migration by a hummingbird.
Rufous Hummingbird
2010 Spring Bird Count and Baillie Birdathon Report
To read Cheryl Anderson's report of the results of PEPtBO's 2010 Baillie Birdathon click here.
Fall Banding Numbers On The Rise In Week 2 at PEPtBO!
Bird of the Week
August 20th - August 26th 2010
Blackburnian Warbler Photo© David Okines.
Latest Fall News From the Observatory
Observation Highlights August 20th -August 26th
Things have really picked up at the Observatory since last week. COMMON LOONS were seen moving on the 23rd and 25th, 4 GREAT BLUE HERONS were seen in the harbour on the 25th. 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS that flew into the harbour at dusk on the 25th were only the 4th fall record. . Late August is also the time for COMMON NIGHTHAWKS to move and 11 were seen on the 24th and 63 passed over in three flocks on the 25th. On the 24th a movement of swallows included 100 TREE SWALLOWS, 25 PURPLE MARTINS, 40 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 80 BANK SWALLOWS, 40 CLIFF SWALLOWS and at least 300 BARN SWALLOWS. Firsts for the fall were BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and OVENBIRDS on the 24th.
103 species have been seen so far this fall. The highest total of species observed for the week was on both August 24th and 25th with 74. Highlight of the week was a GLOSSY IBIS that was seen on the 23rd for about 5 minutes among the loafing MALLARDS on a shingle spit at the entrance to the harbour, it was preening itself and it did not stay long, disappearing when the MALLARDS were flushed by something.
For up to date Weekly Total Banding Statistics and Weekly Observation Reports check out What's Around The Point.
New: Click here to see the DAILY OBSERVATIONS FOR THE THE WEEK.
Glossy Ibis Photo© Bruce Parker.
Banding Highlights August 20th - August 26th
After a quiet, wet and windy start to the week BOBOLINKS moved in earnest on the 24th and 25th when 96 and 131 were trapped. . On the 24th a movement of swallows included a CHIMNEY SWIFT that was banded and is new to the all time fall banding list. The first PHILADELPHIA VIREO of the fall was trapped on the 24th. 648 birds were banded during the week including 19 new species for the fall season.
For a Weekly Summary of the number of each species banded go to the Banding Statistics menu item.
New: Compare the number of each species banded for the same period in 2009. Click here.
Chimney Swift Photo© David Okines.
Banding Operations Are Underway!
Broadwinged Hawk Photo© David Okines
Banding at Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory has started and continues through to Monday, November 1st. Operations will start daily at dawn and finish approximately 6 hours later in early afternoon, weather permitting.
Northern Saw-whet Owl Photo© Mark Breaks
Owl banding will begin near the end of September and continue into October, starting at dusk (7:00 p.m.) each evening, weather permitting. Visitors are most welcome!
Special Project at PEPtBO - Species at Risk Survey
During the summer, David Okines, PEPtBO'sbander-in-charge and station manager conducted a baseline birds at risk survey in and around the Prince Edward County South Shore Important Bird Area (PECSS IBA). This area includes diverse natural and cultural habitats that currently or previously supported populations of several bird species at risk. The results of these surveys will clarify the current distribution and abundance and identify species hotspots and habitat associations of the ten target species in the area.
Short-eared Owl Photo© Bruce Parker
| The Ten Target Species | |
|---|---|
Whip-poor-will |
Short-eared Owl |
Black Tern |
Least Bittern |
Red-headed Woodpecker |
Henslow’s Sparrow |
Common Nighthawk |
Bald Eagle |
Loggerhead Shrike |
King Rail |
In addition to the ten targeted species, David also was collecting baseline data on twelve other species in the IBA that are due to have their status reviewed by COSEWIC in the future.
Bank Swallows Photo© Rosemary Kent
| COSEWIC Future Review Species | |
|---|---|
Bobolink |
Grasshopper Sparrow |
Eastern Kingbird |
Field Sparrow |
Golden-winged Warbler |
American Kestrel |
Killdeer |
Eastern Wood Pewee |
Wood Thrush |
Belted Kingfisher |
Bank Swallow |
Barn Swallow |
Data from the baseline surveys will be provided to the Natural Heritage Information Centre and shared with relevant stakeholders particularly the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Point Petre Provincial Wildlife Area and Ostrander Block) and Canadian Wildlife Service (Prince Edward Point NWA). It will be used to develop a work plan for continuing and expanding birds at risk stewardship activities beyond 2010, including additional surveys, partnership development, and public outreach.
Funding for this project is being provided by the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, a fund established by the Ministry of Natural Resources to stimulate and enhance investment in species at risk protection and recovery.
To read an article written by Terry Sprague for the Picton Gazette about the project click here.
Annual Fall Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction
Saturday, October 23, 6:00 P.M.. to 10:00 P.M. Waring House Restaurant and Inn Banquet Hall, Picton. Special guest presenter: David Bird, author of The Bird Almanac, $65.00/person.
Fall Dinner Speaker Professor David Bird With Young American Kestrels
See the Special Events Fall Page for more information.
Banding Operations Ended for Spring 2010
Banding operations closed for the season on May 31, 2010. Watch for a final report on the Spring Banding results coming soon.
While variable weather conditions may have contributed to an overall lower total from last year, none-the-less new record banding totals were established for: White-eyed Vireo, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Northern Parula, Black-and-White Warbler,
and Mourning Warbler. In addition Chimney Swift was a new banding record for the Observatory.
Mourning Warbler Photo© Bruce Parker
2010 Spring Birding Festival Reports
To view a summary of all the 2010 Spring Birding Festival Activities go to the:
A Rare Visitor to Prince Edward County
Black-bellied Whistling Duck Photo© Bruce Parker
While doing some bird surveys in Prince Edward County on the evening of Sunday July 13th 2010 David Okines, Bander-in-Charge at PEPTBO found a Black-bellied Whistling Duck on a small pond along County Road 10, south of Milford. According to David this pond rarely has anything other than the usual Mallards and Killdeer (plus cattle) on it but he stopped to look anyway. The BBWD was feeding and then preening at the northern edge of the pond that was nearest to the road, it then flew to the centre of the pond and continued to feed. This is the first record of this species for Prince Edward County which now brings the Birding Checklist to 350 species according to Terry Sprague.
David's discovery brought large numbers of birders from Canada and the United States into Prince Edward County to see this rare visitor.
Laura's Bookmarks
Longitme PEPtBO volunteer Laura Pierce has been making Prince Edward Point 
Bird Observatory Bookmarks to assist in raising funds for the Observatory. In the last 2 1/2 years Laura has sold between $1.300.00 and $1.400.00 dollars worth of these attractive and useful items. There are 14 different bird combinations to choose from. On one side of the bookmark Laura features a bird banded at the Observatory while on the other side a different species found in habitat or in her backyard.
Laura's PEPtBO Bookmarks are available now at: Books and Company Ltd. 289 Main Street, Picton, The Tourist Information Office in downtown Picton, Picton Farm Supply, Talbot Street Picton, Green Gables, 286 Main Street Bloomfield, The Bird house in Wooler on Wooler Road and The Wellington Library. As well bookmards maybe purchased right at the Observatory. The cost of each bookmark is $2.00 and all funds go to assist in the operation of PEPtBO.
Upcoming PEPtBO Event
PEPtBO has been chosen as the guest charitable organization for The Maker’s Hand, a festival of fine craft held annually in Prince Edward County at the Prince Edward Community Centre November 5 – 7, 2010. As the guest charity we are provided with a booth space in the foyer entrance to the show. We will be promoting the Bird Observatory and selling a variety of items, along with the Adopt-an-Owls and bird cards.
For more information visit the Makers' Hand website by clicking here.
The Maker’s Hand, Festival of Fine Craft
Prince Edward Community Centre
Picton Fairgrounds
375 Main Street East
Picton ON
Friday, November 5, 10 – 7
Saturday, November 6, 10 – 5
Sunday, November 7, 10 - 5
PEPtBO MEMBERSHIP 2010
The Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada designated Prince Edward Point as a Globally Important Birding Area (IBA) in 1998. Prince Edward Point Observatory is a small self sustaining operation which functions as a migration monitoring station at the Prince Edward Point Natural Wildlife Area during the spring and fall migration seasons. The observatory is a member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) which is comprised of more than 20 similar stations across Canada. We rely almost completely on the generous donations of our members, friends, volunteers and sponsors to fund our work on conservation, research and education related to birds and the environment. A membership is for the calendar year. Please help us by becoming a new member.
For previous members, PEPtBO is very appreciative of the support you have shown in the past. We would like to ask you to continue that support by renewing your membership for 2010 by completing the membership form and forwarding it with your cheque made out to PEPtBO to the address listed on the bottom of the form. If you are interested in volunteering at The Point or supporting our fundraising activities please indicate this on the form as well. We would appreciate a current email address as well as home address and phone number.
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Photos © Bruce Parker
To become a new member or renew your membership please download and print the following form:
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Membership Form 2010
For further information email: peptbo@ymail.com
PEPtBO Newsletter
Click here to view the latest Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Newsletter Fall 2009.