Last Mountain Bird Observatory on Solid Ground

Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 12
Come Out and Visit
or Volunteer at the LMBO
Did you know that you can visit LMBO, located in Last Mountain Regional Park on Last Mountain
Lake, every day in May, and in August and September? Individuals and groups of all ages are welcome
to visit and see many bird species up close, and observe catching, handling and banding techniques.
Learn about species identification, bird migration, threats to bird populations, and bird conservation.
If you have a group that would like to visit for a morning of fun and educational activities, and learn
through being involved with your hands, eyes and ears, then please call Lacey at 306-780-9481 or
email lweekes@naturesask.ca to book a date for a visit. Girl Guides, Scouts, School Groups, and
groups of all ages are encouraged to book a morning of fun and learning at the LMBO.
Volunteers are always welcome at LMBO. If you are interested in volunteering at the Last Mountain
Bird Observatory, with hands on training provided, including removal of birds from the mist nets, then
please contact Al Smith at alanrandi@sasktel.net.
For information on volunteering at or visiting the banding station, educational programming, and past Black-and-White
Warbler newsletters, we invite you to visit the Last Mountain Bird Observatory webpage at:
http://www.naturesask.ca/what-we-do/last-mountain-bird-observatory
Inside:
Message from the
Editors…...……………..2
Important Dates For Spring & Fall
Use of Stable Isotopes.....2
May 9-31 - LMBO open to visitors!
May 17 - Baillie Birdathon at LMBO with leader Marla Anderson
June 20-22 - Nature Saskatchewan Spring Meet: Fort Qu’appelle
Aug-Sept - LMBO open to visitors
Sept/Oct- Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet: Regina/Lumsden
Donations of $10 or more are tax deductible.
Donate online at www.naturesask.ca or make cheques payable to Nature Saskatchewan and mail to
206-1860 Lorne St, Regina SK S4P 2L7. Please note that the donation is for LMBO.
We thank our 2013 Donors:
The Black-and-White Warbler—The Newsletter of the Last Mountain Bird Observatory
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1, SPRING 2014 EDITED by Rebecca A.W. Magnus & Alan R. Smith
We thank our 2013 Sponsors:
LMBO Spring Update….4
LMBO Fall Update..........5
2013 Nocturnal Owl
Survey……………..........6
LMBO Data for Birds of
Saskatchewan...................7
LMBO Data for Continentwide Research………......7
2013 Baillie Birdathon….8
A. W. Hartley
Alison Philips
Joyce Christiansen
Katharine & John Schulz
The Important Bird Areas
Caretaker Network ..........9
Annika Weeks
Leonard Fisher
Brenda Dale
Marilyn Meyer
Thank You to 2013
Birdathoners...................10
C. Stuart & Mary Houston
Martin Gerard
Claire Thorseth
Mary I. Houston
Diether Peschken
Maurice & Margaret Mareschal
Donna M. Morningstar
Patricia Sargent
Dorothy Skene
Peter Carton
Gordon Dash
Phyllis Ilsley
Gwen Klebeck
Ramsay & Marjorie Ross
Harold Fisher
Ross D. Dickson
J. Frank Roy
Tim Keslering
James L. W. McKay
Violet Budd
Jim Paul
Join us for Baillie
Birdathon 2014..............10
Murray & Edna Forbes Foundation
LMBO is managed by:
Featured Species: Western
Kingbird……….………11
Come out and visit/
volunteer at LMBO…....12
Last Mountain Bird Observatory on Solid Ground
Margaret Skeel
The announcement in January 2008 that
Environment Canada (EC) would no longer be
supporting the Last Mountain Bird
Observatory (LMBO) caught everyone’s
attention. The LMBO, opened in 1989 by
station manager Alan Smith, was operated by
EC and Nature Saskatchewan. The loss of the
station manager’s position with the retirement
of Alan Smith from EC put LMBO in danger
of closing. Bob MacFarlane knew what
Bob MacFarlane (Photo: Bob MacFarlane)
needed to be done. Bob, a director at Nature
Saskatchewan, stepped forward with enthusiasm and an idea: a campaign to raise
funds to secure LMBO into the future. Under his knowledgeable guidance many
people lent their talents to help, and the Flight Plan Partners 5-year campaign to
raise $250,000 was launched in spring 2008.
It was a successful journey: the long-term
operation of the LMBO monitoring and
educational station is ensured. Along the
way, a campaign brochure and FPP
certificate were developed, an impressive
interpretive sign was unveiled at LMBO,
and a LMBO trust fund was established.
Most important, many people cared and
donated to LMBO, 67 people and
organizations becoming FPPs, raising a
total of $296,612.74. Thank you!
Alan Smith and Deanna Trowsdale-Mutafov at
LMBO (Photo: Shelly Fisher)
A permanent plaque recognizing the names of all FPPs is to be unveiled on
June 21 at the Nature Saskatchewan Spring Meet at Ft. Qu’Appelle. Hope to
see you there!
Nature Saskatchewan receives funding from:
Printed on 50% recycled FSC paper.
(Forest Stewardship Council)
Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 2
Message from the Editors
Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 11
Featured Species: Western Kingbird
Alan R. Smith
Over the past 5 years the supporters of the Last Mountain Bird Observatory have
given generously to the Observatory and its associated programs - the Nocturnal
Owl Survey, Breeding Bird Survey, and Christmas Bird and Mammal Counts. As
you will see as you read this newsletter this support has yielded some impressive
results with especially large strides in our understanding of landbird migration
through southern Saskatchewan. Thanks again to our many supporters! The future
of LMBO is well assured!
-Alan R. Smith, Co-editor
After a long winter, it has been great to reflect on the great year the Last Mountain
Bird Observatory had and all the contributions its data is making! The enthusiasm
from the birding community is always great, and has made a difference in engaging
youth as well. It is great to see the observatory attracting such a diverse group of
people… not to mention birds!
- Rebecca A.W. Magnus, Co-editor
Use of Stable Isotopes to determine the catchment areas of birds migrating
through LMBO.
Alan R. Smith
The use of stable isotopes is an increasingly widespread tool in scientific study. More specifically, stable
isotopes of hydrogen are frequently used to help delineate the breeding origins of birds especially in
North America. In this continent, the proportion of the deuterium isotope in rainwater declines in a
regular pattern from Florida to Alaska. When rain falls in an area, plants absorb the rainfall and pass it
up the food chain reflecting (with a correction factor) the isotopic ratios of the precipitation. By
measuring these ratios we can predict the geographic origin of feathers grown by young of the year or
by moulting adults (which generally moult on or near the breeding grounds). It is important to recognize
that while these patterns provide a strong latitudinal component of origin they are much poorer at
delineating longitude.
During our brief summer, the Western Kingbird is a familiar denizen of our towns, villages and
farmsteads. This was not always so for some 130 years ago it was restricted to the extreme southwest of
the province, spreading gradually north to its present limits approximately along the Yellowhead
Highway. It was first recorded in the LMBO area in 1929 when a nest was found on a platform behind a
transformer pole in Simpson.
Today it is one of the common summer resident birds at LMBO, arriving on average on 11 May just
after we open the observatory on 9 May. Western Kingbirds leave on the average date of 30 August not
long after the young have fledged. Interestingly, the average local arrival and departure dates of its
close cousin, the Eastern Kingbird, are both 5 days later (16 May and 4 September).
Since 1990 we have banded 152 Western Kingbirds at LMBO. Only 6 birds have retuned, but one of
these was of great interest as it tied the world record for oldest bird of the species at 6 years and 11
months. The bird in question, a female, was banded as a yearling on 19 May 2005 and recaptured on 24
May 2011.
By the Numbers - Results from LMBO (1990-2013)
Banding:
Spring: 85
Summer (nestlings): 12
Fall: 55
Total: 152
Returns: 7 returns on 6 birds (1 bird returned twice)
Spring Arrival:
Average: 11 May (24 years)
Early: 5 May 2006
Late: 18 May 1990
Fall Departure:
Average: 30 August (22 years)
Early: 16 August 2001
Late: 14 September 2009
Western Kingbird (Photo: Sarah VingeMazer)
Due to band recovery rates that are at or near zero, the use of stable isotopes is the only feasible way to
determine the breeding origins of birds migrating through LMBO. To this end a project facilitated by a
grant from the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and coordinated by Bird Studies Canada
was initiated in 2007 involving LMBO and other CMMN stations. Below are some of the results of this
project: the inferred primary breeding ground catchment areas for selected species (those with a
sufficiently large sample size); these are compared to their overall breeding areas.
Alder Flycatcher:
-Primary catchment area: From the southeastern Alaska, and from southern Northwest
Territories south to northern British Columbia east to northwestern Saskatchewan.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal forest.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet:
-Primary catchment area: Southern Northwest Territories and adjacent jurisdictions.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal forest.
Western Kingbird (Photo: Nick Saunders)
Western Kingbird (Photo: Nick
Saunders)
Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 10
Thank you to 2013 Baillie
Birdathoners!
Thank you to our 2013 Baillie Birdathoners. Participants in the 2013 Baillie Birdathon who designated
Nature Saskatchewan for their support raised $790.50 for Last Mountain Bird Observatory. The total
amount raised by participants was $1,054.00, of which the remaining portion goes towards conservation
of Canadian birds. Many thanks to those who went out and/or sponsored a birdathoner. We thank the
following Baillie Birdathoners who collected pledges for LMBO: Gabriel Foley ( LMBO Guest Birder),
Amanda Foley, and Margaret Skeel.
Spring 2014
Orange-crowned Warbler:
-Primary catchment area: Yukon and
adjacent jurisdictions.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal
forest.
Lacey Weekes, Nature Saskatchewan
More than 7,000 people from across Canada (and from
several countries around the world) participate in and/or
sponsor Birdathons in May of every year. During a 24hour period, “birdathoners” attempt to find as many bird
species as they can, sponsored at a flat rate, or on a perspecies basis.
Birdathoners in action (Photo: Nature Saskatchewan)
Help fundraise for the Last Mountain Bird Observatory
and become a part of the 2014 Baillie Birdathon by
registering & finding sponsors. You can sponsor yourself,
a participant, or our Birdathon leader. A tax receipt is
issued for all sponsorships of $10 or more.
To register for the Baillie Birdathon contact Nature Saskatchewan (1-800-667-4668 or 306-780-9481),
call Bird Studies Canada (1-888-448-2473 ext.210), or visit BSC at www.bsc-eoc.org to download your
Birdathon Participant kit – be sure to name “Nature Saskatchewan” as your sponsoring club on the
registration form so that funds will go to LMBO (about 60-90%). The remainder supports bird
conservation in Canada.
Can’t make it to LMBO? You can do your own Birdathon: sign up, find sponsors and get out in May to
see as many species as possible in one day at a location of your choice! Go alone or with a friend.
Check with your local nature club – a bird enthusiast may be leading a local Birdathon that you can join
(consider sponsoring the leader if you are not planning to sign up for the Baillie Birdathon yourself).
Thanks and Happy birding!
Page 3
Hermit Thrush (results combined with those from Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory):
-Primary catchment area: From the southeastern Alaska, and along the 60th parallel from the
Alaska Panhandle to northwestern Saskatchewan.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal
forest.
Please Join us for the 2014 Baillie Birdathon
At Last Mountain Bird Observatory
Come join us on Saturday, May 17th, 2014 to have a lot of fun and help birds at the same time! Nature
Saskatchewan’s Last Mountain Bird Observatory (LMBO) is hosting a Baillie Birdathon event in the
Last Mountain Regional Park which is just west of Govan (please call the NS office if you need
directions). Plan to get together with our Birdathon leader Marla Anderson, on May 17th, to enjoy a
morning of birding around Last Mountain Bird Observatory. It will be fun, challenging, and a great
learning experience Come on your own, or bring your friends and family - everyone is welcome! If
you have binoculars, then don’t forget to bring them along too. Please meet at 8 am at the LMBO
banding station, and then everyone can walk around the park as a group, and have lunch together at the
park concession. Last year, leader Gabriel Foley had a total species count of 101 birds at LMBO and
area!
The Black-and-White Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler (Photo: Shelly Fisher)
Magnolia Warbler:
-Primary catchment area: From southeastern
Yukon and the southern Northwest Territories
south to northeastern British Columbia east to
northwestern Saskatchewan.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal
forest from southeastern Yukon and
northeastern British Columbia east.
Yellow Warbler (sampling delayed until locally breeding birds
had left):
-Primary catchment area: Yukon and northern Northwest
Territories.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal forest from
southeastern Yukon and northeastern British Columbia east.
Palm Warbler:
-Primary catchment area: Southern Northwest Territories
and adjacent jurisdictions.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal forest from
northeastern British Columbia east.
Lincoln’s Sparrow:
-Primary catchment area: From southern Northwest
Territories south to northern British Columbia east to
northwestern Saskatchewan, and possibly southeastern
Alaska.
-Overall breeding area: throughout the boreal forest.
Yellow Warbler (Photo: Larry Going)
As can be seen from these results birds migrating through LMBO come from areas much smaller than
their overall breeding ranges. In addition, they tend to be from areas more remote from LMBO and the
southern edge of the Boreal Forest – generally from northwestern Saskatchewan north to southern
Northwest Territories and west to the Yukon and southeastern Alaska.
Reference: Hobson, K. A., and S. L. Van Wilgenburg. 2014. A report on the stable-hydrogen isotope
analysis of feathers from Canadian Migration Monitoring Network Stations sampled in 2007 with
preliminary catchment area depictions. Unpublished report, Environment Canada, Saskatoon.
Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 4
Last Mountain Bird Observatory – Spring 2013
23rd consecutive spring of coverage (22nd of standardized coverage).
Migration Monitoring:
First Day of coverage: 9 May.
Last day of coverage: 31 May.
Total days of coverage: 23 of a possible 23 (100%).
Number of staff: 4 (Gabriel Foley, Alan Smith).
Number of volunteers: 6 (Bert Dalziel, Shelly Fisher, Jamie Harden, Dale Jefferson, Brenda
Kramarchuk, Jordan Rustad).
Number of person-days effort: 47 (last year 65).
Number of visitors: 70 (last year 161).
Observation effort: census, casual and incidental observations.
Trapping effort: 12 12 m x 30 mm mist nets and one 12 m x 35 mm mist net for 1367 net hours; 279
birds/1000 net hours (1992-2012 average: 411).
Number of species observed: c. 100.
Number of species captured: 50 (1992-2012 average: 48).
New birds captured: 383 (1992-2012 average: 537); 40 birds of 13 species returned to LMBO after one
or more years. A male Red-winged Blackbird banded on 12 May 2010 was recaptured on 26 May
of this year. This is the first return for this species and brings the number of species with one or
more returns to 25.
Species Peak: 29 May, 21 species.
Banding peak: 18 May, 63 birds.
Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 9
After she scurried into the reception, I headed west of town, confident I could find a Red-tailed Hawk.
Instead, it took a full forty-five minutes to track down one of the most common hawks in the area. I
came back into town and picked up my girl, relieved that at least I didn’t return empty-handed. We were
at 99 species, but it was getting dark fast. We headed to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, hoping for a
thrush or a nuthatch. We caught a glimpse of something smallish skulking in a spruce. We approached
it cautiously, but it flew before we could identify it. It was definitely a thrush, but we couldn’t count it
for our list unless we knew the species. Stealthily (I like to think of us as the birding equivalent of the
Navy SEALS; Amanda says I’m just a nerd), we flanked it from either side. The bird flew to the
ground, our binoculars focused on their target, and identification was reached. Swainson’s Thrush! 100
birds! But we still had 15 minutes of light, and a Yellow Warbler sang out.
Since warblers are often found in flocks, we decided to see
what else was with him. Amanda found several birds, but
nothing new. I was in the same boat; just a couple chickadees
and a robin scurrying around under a willow. Wait. That’s not
a robin. That’s a catbird. Nope. Not a catbird. Maybe I
should use my binoculars. Yes! Spotted Towhee! As the sun
set and we walked back to our truck, hand in hand, we
recounted the birds, just to be sure. 101 species, which meant
we raised a total of $305.50. Amanda and I had a great day
together, and we really appreciate the generosity of everyone
who supported us. Thanks to everyone who made this
birdathon possible and especially to Gary Seib for coming out
and birding with us.
Gabriel Foley (Photo: I. Salvarina)
The Important Bird Areas Caretaker Network –
We Are Almost There
Lacey Weekes, Nature Saskatchewan
Comments:
Only 2 of the top 10 captures were of migrant species - a
strong indication of a poor and uneventful spring
migration. Numbers of most locally nesting species were
also low - an indication that these species were still
arriving when LMBO closed at the end of May. An
exception was the Gray Catbird, which was caught in
unprecedented numbers that eclipsed the previous high of
14 set last year. No new species was captured so the all
time number species captured in the spring remains at 99.
All of the Caretakers - both individuals and groups - have volunteered to watch for changes in bird
populations and conservation threats, as well as conduct outreach and raise awareness about their site.
We sincerely thank all of these caretakers for their commitment to the IBA program - they are the eyes,
ears, hands and feet on the ground at their site. Birds provide us with evidence of a healthy or unhealthy
ecosystem, and are considered an important environmental indicator. Maintaining the health of
Important Bird Areas will contribute to the conservation of other biotic and abiotic factors beyond birds.
Alan Smith working with youth at the LMBO (Photo:
Amanda Foley)
Top 10 Captures Spring 2013:
White-throated Sparrow
American Robin
Clay-coloured Sparrow
Least Flycatcher
Gray Catbird
The Important Bird Areas Program in Saskatchewan has 53 designated sites that Nature Saskatchewan
has been finding volunteer caretakers for since 2009. Forty-five of these sites now have caretakers in
place.
59
32
27
26
22
House Wren
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
22
21
17
14
10
If you can spare a day or two per year to visit an IBA, the following sites still require volunteer
caretakers: Big Muddy Lake area; Cabri Area; Cumberland Marshes; Primrose Lake and Suggi Lake,
Bigstick Lake Plain, Govenlock-Nashlyn-Battle Creek Grasslands & Maple Creek Grasslands.
To find descriptions of all of the 53 sites, go to www.ibacanada.ca , then Explore
IBAs, IBA Site Directory, and restrict search to Saskatchewan to bring up the full list.
Please contact Lacey for more details or information on becoming a caretaker, by email at lweekes@naturesask.ca or by phone at 306-780-9481 in Regina or 1-800-6674668 in SK.
Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 8
2013 Baillie Birdathon at Last Mountain Bird Observatory
Gabriel Foley, Baillie Birdathon Leader and Last Mountain Bird Observatory/Important Bird Areas
Summer Student, Nature Saskatchewan
I looked, for the fiftieth time, at the glowing hands of my watch. The minutes were passing far too
slowly. I couldn’t sleep, thinking about the Yellow Rails and Eastern Screech-Owls I wasn’t hearing.
But I had strict instructions from my fiancée not to wake her up before 6:00 AM, and with only a week
left until the wedding, I decided not to push my luck. I did that enough without even trying. I had
already heard Sora and Great Horned Owl from inside the tent, and mentally ticked them off our day’s
list. I had meticulously planned my route for the birdathon, where Amanda and I would try to see or
hear as many bird species as possible within 24 hours to raise money for bird conservation in Canada.
Finally, I heard a Brown Thrasher start to sing, then an American Robin. It was dawn! I grabbed my
notebook and headed outside the tent. As the gray light of dawn slowly turned into the red light of
morning, more birds began to wake up, the males lustily singing in defense of their hard-won territories
including Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Clay-coloured Sparrow. Songs were coming
hard and fast now.
I was at Last Mountain Bird Observatory, at the north end of Last Mountain Lake, and I was ticking
birds off my list. Normally, I like to take long, studious looks at the birds I find, but not today. Today
was not about meticulous plumage patterns or interesting behaviour. Today was about finding species.
Generous donors had pledged a certain amount per bird species we found, so the more birds we found,
the more money we raised, and I intended to raise as much as possible. The mournful dirge of a Harris’
Sparrow rang out, and a Northern Harrier coursed over a distant marsh. I caught some movement in a
willow shrub and there was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet! Kinglets should have all migrated north by now,
but the late spring held this feisty little bird back and I had the privilege of finding him.
For the next hour and a half I continued to check species off. I
found 46 species, including Hooded Merganser, Greater Scaup,
and White-winged Scoter before I returned to the banding
station and woke my soon-to-be bride. She really does love
me; it just takes a few minutes early in the morning for her to
remember that. We birded the park together for another two
hours, until Gary Seib joined us. My luck in conscripting
birders had been awful so far. Two conscripts had already
succumbed to sprained or broken ankles shortly after agreeing
to join me for the day, and it seemed word of this luck had
spread. Although short on fellow birders, with Gary’s help we
American Bittern (Photo: Shelley Fisher)
still added another two dozen birds before leaving the park,
bringing the total to an even 70 species, including a lovely female Blackpoll Warbler I couldn’t help but
watch for an extra minute or two.
Amanda had to be back in Regina for a friend’s wedding, so off we raced, picking up a Horned Lark and
a Swainson’s Hawk before hitting the highway. A U-turn worthy of Indiana Jones was the result of a
Least Sandpiper innocently feeding in a slough, and a Turkey Vulture got a double fist pump. We were
only three birds shy of 100 species, but I was having trouble thinking of where we could find new bird
species in Regina. Amanda said she knew of a Merlin nest in the city, so we decided to stop there before
dropping her off. We stepped out of the car, she focused my scope on the top of a spruce tree, and,
bingo, there was our 98th species. Man, I love this woman.
Spring 2014
The Black-and-White Warbler
Page 5
Last Mountain Bird Observatory – Fall 2013
24st consecutive fall of coverage (21th of standardized coverage).
Migration Monitoring:
First day of coverage: 6 August.
Last day of coverage: 7 October.
Total days of coverage: 63 of a possible 66.
Percent of days with adequate coverage: 95%.
Number of staff: 4 (Ryan Dudragne, Gabriel Foley, Jordan Rustad, Alan Smith).
Number of volunteers: 18 (Bert Dalziel, Kari Dalziel, Harold Fisher, Shelly Fisher, Amanda Foley,
Joyce Holland, Ron Jensen, Nicole Michel, Beatrix Prieto, Josie Rustad, Nick Saunders, Lori Sielski,
Phil Taylor, Guy Wapple, Rob Wapple, Lacey Weekes, Barb Weidl, Don Weidl,).
Number of person-days effort: 151 including 131 staff and 20 volunteer (135 last year).
Number of visitors: 348 (record high).
Observation effort: census, casual and incidental observations.
Trapping effort: 13 12mx30mm mist nets for 3887 net hours; 1057 birds/1000 net hours (record high;
1992-2012 average: 620).
Number of species observed: ~110.
Number of species captured: 78 (1992-2012 average: 71).
New birds captured (includes birds released without banding): 4110 (second highest ever; 1992-2012
average: 2667). Eight birds returned after banding in previous years (one was from 2011, the rest
from 2012).
Species Peak: 26 August and 1 September, 28 species.
Banding peak: 19 September: 372 birds (3rd highest ever).
Comments:
As with last year, the outstanding feature of this fall was the lateness
of Yellow-rumped Warbler migration. Numbers peaked on 19
September, some 8 days later than the long-term average of 11
September. Record numbers of Yellow rumps were captured; our
1856 birds eclipsing the previous high of 1337 set in 1994. All other
species were captured in near normal numbers. Our first Sedge Wren
was captured raising our all-time fall species total to 113 banded
species. A Broad-winged Hawk on 30 September was only our third
capture. Our best rarity was an immature a Sabine’s Gull observed on
18 September.
Checking a mist net with a group of youth
(Photo: Gabriel Foley)
Top 10 Captures Fall 2013:
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Alder Flycatcher
Palm Warbler
1856
586
126
123
95
Least Flycatcher
Tennessee Warbler
Ovenbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Clay-coloured Sparrow
94
91
85
84
81
Spring 2014
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Page 6
Spring 2014
The Saskatchewan Nocturnal Owl Survey – 2013
Over the last 24 years a tremendous amount of information has been gathered on the bird migration at
Last Mountain Bird Observatory. Although the primary intent of these efforts has been to monitor
populations of forest-dwelling birds, there are many other unintended purposes for these data (see article
“Data from Last Mountain Bird Observatory used in Continent-wide Research”. One of the most
important of these has been the use of spring and fall arrival and departure data from LMBO in the
forthcoming “Birds of Saskatchewan”. Although many other areas of the province have contributed
this type of information to this work, data from LMBO are especially valuable as they have been some
of the most systematically and consistently gathered.
Data from Last Mountain Bird Observatory
used in Continent-wide Research
Great Horned Owl (Photo: Heidi den Haan)
Table 1. Summary of the 2013 Nocturnal Owl Survey, Saskatchewan.
BARR GGOW LEOW SEOW BOOW NSWO
Total
birds
Totals
0
41
0
5
0
1
0
3
2
52
Total Routes Present
0
9
0
3
0
1
0
2
2
10
0.00
2.93
0.00
0.36
0.00
0.07
0.00
0.21
0.14
3.71
Mean/Route
Table 2. Summary of the average number of owls heard per route (10 stops), Saskatchewan Nocturnal
Owl Survey 2002-2013.
Year
2002
Page 7
Data from LMBO makes invaluable contribution
to the forthcoming “Birds of Saskatchewan”
The 14 routes run in the spring of 2013 is the lowest in
the history of the Saskatchewan survey (Table 1). This
was not due to observer apathy, but mainly to adverse
road and weather conditions with winter persisting into
late April. The number of owls per route was above
average due mainly to the highest mean number of Great
Horned Owls per route ever recorded (Table 2). This is of
interest as Horned Owl productivity in Saskatchewan was
negligible this year; perhaps the owls spent their efforts
vocally maintaining territories and pair bonds rather than
on nesting.
ESOW GHOW NHOW
The Black-and-White Warbler
ESOW GHOW NHOW BARR GGOW LEOW SEOW BOOW NSWO Total Routes run
0
1.88
0.00
0.38
0.25
0
0
1.25
0.25 0.91
15
2003
0.1
1.96
0.00
0.08
0.08
0.16
0
0.67
0.45
3.49
51
2004
0
2.53
0.00
0.18
0.18
0.45
0
0.68
0.5
4.5
40
2005
0
1.7
0.00
0.27
0.13
0.47
0
0.4
0.3
3.27
33
2006
0.03
1.66
0.00
0.31
0.25
0.5
0
0.25
1.06
4.06
32
2007
0.03
1.74
0.00
0.06
0.1
0.52
0
0.58
0.94
3.97
31
2008
0
1.89
0.00
0.18
0.04
0.5
0
0.29
0.36
3.29
28
2009
0
2.35
0.00
0.12
0.04
0.35
0
0.08
0.46
3.38
26
2010
0
1.87
0.00
0.03
0.1
0.19
0.1
0.65
1.94
4.87
31
2011
0
1.36
0.00
0.29
0
0.07
0
0.18
0.46
2.36
28
2012
0.00
0.61
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.09
0.04
0.57
0.74
2.17
23
2013
0.00
2.93
0.00
0.36
0.00
0.07
0.00
0.21
0.14
3.71
16
Average
0.01
1.78
0.00
0.18
0.11
0.30
0.01
0.51
0.68
3.41
29.50
Over the last year a number of requests for bird banding and census data from LMBO have been
received. These requests have been sent via Bird Studies Canada’s “Nature Counts” portal and
demonstrate the continent-wide importance of data gathered at Migration Monitoring stations such as
LMBO.
The following requests for data have been approved and include:
1a. Modeling spatial and temporal patterns of landbird migration in the Gulf of Maine and a
follow-up study: 1b. Birds in the wind: modeling past and future spatial patterns of bird
migration in the North Eastern US. The applicant is Jennifer McCabe of the University of
Maine, Orono, ME. These data are intended for her PhD dissertation and peer reviewed articles.
2. Hummingbird Partnership and Data Portal. The applicant is Josée Rousseau on behalf of the
Humboldt Bay and Klamath Bird Observatories, Arcata, CA. The data will be used to promote
the understanding of our hummingbird populations at the large scale. The data are to be
compiled and made available to the Western Hummingbird Partnership. The intent is to advance
knowledge of the distribution, trends, and population demographics of hummingbirds.
3. Passerines and Exurban Development in Saskatchewan. The applicant is Charlotte Gayler as
a class project for the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. She is
examining species composition changes from a natural
prairie environment to an urban environment. Saskatoon's is
growing dramatically and this project aims to investigate
how this effects the biodiversity and species composition.
Cape May Warbler (Photo: Gabriel Foley)
4. Biodiversity analysis and environmental correlates of
bird distribution in Canada. The applicant is You Hua Chen
of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. She
hopes to “reveal the influence of climate and other
environmental variables on the distribution of birds in
Canada and North America”. She intends to publish her
results n a refereed journal.