Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Last Updated: February 4th 2010
Spring 2010 at PEPtBO!
Banding Operations
Begins on Saturday, April 10. Monitoring of the spring migration at Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory begins. Operations start daily at dawn and finish approximately six hours later around noon, weather permitting. The station will close for the season on May 31, 2010. Visitors are welcome.
Cerulean Warbler Photo © David Okines
Spring Birding Festival Events May 8 to 16
PEPtBO Spring Bird Count and Baillie Birdathon
The Baillie Birdathon is a Canada-wide fundraiser organized by Bird Studies Canada. During any 24-hour period throughout the month of May, participants find as many species as they can, sponsored at a flat rate or so much per species. This event generates a significant portion of the funds needed to operate the migration monitoring station at Prince Edward Point.
You are invited to participate by joining one of our teams, by forming your own team, or by sponsoring someone who is participating. Our guest birder this year is Theresa Durning, a well-known journalist and photographer in Prince Edward County.
The main objective is to raise funds for PEPtBO, and have fun looking for birds in the process. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Cheryl Anderson at 613-471-1096 or by email at cherylanderson23@sympatico.ca
Northern Parula , Black-throated Green Warbler Photos © Bruce Parker
Want to know more about becoming part of the Baillie Birdathon? Click here for a FAQ Sheet that will help answer your questions.
Guided Bird Walks
From May 8 to May 16 daily guided walks begin at 8:00 A.M. in the Point Traverse Woods (.5 km north of the Observatory) and last about 2 hours, focusing on spring songbird migrants of the day, and learning to identify them by sight and sound. Guides are Terry Sprague, Rosemary Smith and Owen Weir. There is a charge of $5/person with proceeds to PEPtBO.
Guided Walk Participants Photo © Terry Sprague
Banding Demonstrations
On Saturdays, May 8 & 15, and Sundays, May 9 & 16, 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. banding demonstrations will be held at the Observatory at Prince Edward Point. PEPtBO conducts standardized banding operations and surveys that result in daily estimated totals for each species passing through the area. Birds are caught in mist nets, operated from sunrise to noon. They are carefully removed and brought back to the banding lab. Each is fitted with a unique band, its age and sex recorded along with its wing length, weight and fat. The banding information is sent to the Canadian Wildlife Service at Environment Canada. The totals are shared with Bird Studies Canada where the data is analyzed both separately and with that from other migration monitoring stations. These results can be seen on the Bird Studies Canada website. (www.bsc.org).
Banding Demonstration with David Okines Photo © Bruce Parker
Art of Flight Art Show and Sale
The Art of Flight Art Show and Sale celebrates the miracle of the annual migration of thousands of songbirds through Prince Edward County. Our third annual show opens on May 7 and runs through to May 24, open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. This unique event showcases over 70 pieces of original art from 46 county artists, and is generously sponsored by the Black Prince Winery located at 13370 Loyalist Parkway. A portion of the proceeds is in support of PEPtBO
Art of Flight Work From Last Year's Show Photo © Judy Kent
WORKSHOPS - NEW THIS YEAR!!
This year we are offering 4 workshops designed to be of interest to both birders and naturalists at all levels of experience from beginner to seasoned veteran. There will be a charge of $ 30.00 per person, $25.00 for PEPtBO members and $10.00 for students. Each workshop will be limited to 12 participants. To register, please contact Cheryl Anderson at 613-471-1096 or by email at cherylanderson23@sympatico.ca
Workshop # 1:
Presenter: David Bree
Topic: On the Warbler Menu: Insects
Location: TBA
Date & Time: Saturday, May 8, 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon
Workshop # 2:
Presenter: Court Noxon
Topic: Spring Forest and Meadow Wildflowers.
Location: Stillwater Forest, County Road 13
Date & Time: Saturday, May 8, 12:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Workshop # 3:
Presenter: Terry Sprague
Topic: Birding by Ear
Location: TBA
Date & Time: Saturday, May 15, 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon
To visit Terry Sprague's website click here.
Workshop # 4:
Presenter: Brendan Toews
Topic: Nature Photography
Location: Stillwater Forest, County Road 13
Date: Saturday, May 15, 12:00 to 2:00 P.M.
To view examples of Brendan Toews' photographs click here.
Throughout the Festival, a hospitality tent will be open at the Observatory for visitors to post their sightings, rest and have a cup of something, share information, chat with other birders, or just hang out. There will be light snacks and beverages available, as well as PEPtBO merchandise. PEPtBO volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions and to conduct tours of the station. We look forward to seeing you – and the birds - in May!!
PEPtBO AGM and Baillie Birdathon Wrap-up Dinner
Saturday, May 29, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Picton Legion, $25.00/person. For directions click here.
Special guest speaker: Bridget Stutchbury, author of Silence of the Songbirds.
To learn more about Professor Stutchbury's work click here.
To view last year's 2009 Spring Birding Festival Activities go to the Special Events Spring Page
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.