Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Last Updated: May 18th 2013
Latest News From PEPtBO
The PEPtBO AGM and Birdathon Wrap Up Dinner
The PEPtBO AGM and Birdathon Wrap up dinner will be held on Saturday May 25 at the Picton Legion. We start off at 5 pm with a social hour and judging of our photo contest submissions. After a delicious dinner – catered by Wheelhouse catering we will hold a brief AGM. Once the business is over, our Bander-in-chief Stéphane Menu will tell us all about his Adventures in Migration Monitoring.
Be sure to indicate your intention to attend by emailing Mike Burge mburge@kos.net before May 20. Thanks and see you there.
Exciting news!
Thanks to the generosity of Hastings & Quinte EMS, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory is going to receive an AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes.
Local paramedics Kim Curry and Mike Foley are raising the funds for the AED by riding in the Heart & Stroke Ride for Heart on June 2. They are within $275 of reaching their goal to obtain the AED for us.
Please help us by supporting this fundraiser by clicking here.
Spring Banding Season
PEPtBO opened for the Spring Banding Season on April 15th. The new Bander-in-charge Stéphane Menu and long term volunteer Marcos Perez welcome all visitors. Come and learn about the banding process!
Bander-in-charge Stéphane Menu. Stéphane will be the guest speaker at our AGM on Saturday May 25 at 5:30 at the Picton Legion. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Long term volunteer Marcos Perez comes to PEPtBO from Spain. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Banding begins daily at dawn and finishes approximately six hours later around noon, weather permitting.
Come and spend some time in beautiful Prince Edward County and learn about what an important role Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory plays in monitoring the annual spring bird migration.
For Directions to Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory click here.
Female Black-and-white Warbler. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Male Black-and-white Warbler. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Week 4 Reports
May 10th - May 16th
Bird of the Week
May 10th - May 16th 2013
An American Woodcock banded on May 11th. Photo© Marcos Perez.
Observation Highlights May 10th - May 16th
This past week, major movements happened in the first two days, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures and strong West wind that neatly stopped migration in its tracks for at least 3 days. Only in the last 2 days that migration resumed in earnest, with clear, calm nights inducing heavy flights. Only 6 new species were detected for the spring this week, a reflection of where we stand in time now: there are still new birds to show up but the bulk of arrival has now happened.
On the 10th, there was an amazing, diverse movement of birds, with many ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, and SCARLET TANAGERS. The following day, heavy movements continue, with, notably, MYRTLE (YELLOW-RUMPED) WARBLERS.
Of note, there were 2 male ORCHARD ORIOLES in the maple tree next to the station on the 14th. Finally, the weather turned and migration resumed during the last 2 days. In the morning of the 16th, the woods were filled with the rainbow colours of spring birds, from AMERICAN REDSTARTS and INDIGO BUNTINGS to BALTIMORE ORIOLES and SCARLET TANAGERS.
147 species have been seen so far this SPRING. The highest total of species observed for the week was on May 16th with 71.
For up to date Daily and Weekly Observation Reports check out What's Around The Point.
Orchard Orioles were seen on May 14th. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Banding Highlights May 10th - May 16th
806 birds representing 59 species were banded this week. The first RED-EYED VIREO was in our nets on the 11th. The first SWAINSON’S THRUSH was detected on the 10th. Also on the 10th, there was an amazing, diverse movement of birds, with many ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS including 16 banded.
Four new species of WARBLERS complete the new weekly arrivals: BLACK-THROATED BLUE and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS on the 11th, WILSON’S and CANADA WARBLERS on the 16th. The following day, heavy movements continue, with, notably, MYRTLE (YELLOW-RUMPED) WARBLERS. On the best day so far of the spring in terms of banding, 134 birds of this species were banded! We also banded an AMERICAN WOODCOCK, a treat enjoyed by the many Saturday visitors.
Bird of the Week was an American Woodcock banded on May 11th.
For a Weekly Summary of the number of each species and the totals banded go to the Weekly Banding Statistics menu item.
Canada Warbler. Photo© Marcos Perez.
Cape May Warbler. Photo© Marcos Perez.
Blackburnian Warbler. Photo© Marcos Perez.
134 Yellow-rumped Warblers were banded on May 11th. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrived in numbers on May 10th. Photo© Bruce Parker.
THE PRINCE EDWARD POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY
Celebrates Spring Migration Spring Birding Festival, May 11 – 20, 2013
Scarlet Tanager Photo© Bruce Parker.
THE PRINCE EDWARD POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY Celebrates Spring Migration Spring Birding Festival, May 11 – 20, 2013
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO) will be hosting a SPRING BIRDING FESTIVAL from May 11-20, celebrating the return of migratory birds heading north to their nesting grounds in the 1.3 billion acre boreal forest. More migratory birds are seen at Prince Edward Point than anywhere else on the northern side of Lake Ontario. This point of land is on a major flyway and provides an area for birds to rest and feed on their way north from southern USA, the Caribbean, Central and South America. DAILY: From Saturday, May 11 to Monday, May 20, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory volunteers will offer guided bird walks and banding demonstrations. Bird-friendly coffee and refreshments will be served in the Hospitality Tent. Official opening of the Festival takes place Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m. at the Bird Observatory. Families, beginners, seasoned birders - come out and celebrate the return of our avian friends. BIRDING HIKES • Morning birding hikes at Traverse Woods – daily at 8 am • Afternoon birding hikes - Bird Observatory to the Lighthouse – Sat. May 11 and Sat May 18, 4 pm • Birding the County with PECFN – meet at Mariner’s Museum - Sun. May 19, 8 am WORKSHOPS • Warblers I have known and loved - Sat. May 11, 11 am-1 pm with Terry Sprague • Look way up – Raptor identification - Sat. May 18, 2 -4 pm with Pamela Stagg The workshops will be held at Jackson’s Fall Schoolhouse B&B, 1768 County Rd. #17 For Directions click on the link below: http://www.jacksonsfalls.com/contact.shtml
EVENING PRESENTATION Techno-Birding – Wed. May 15 – 7 pm - Bloomfield Town Hall
Bird Banding at last year's Festival. Photo© Bruce Parker.
LOCATION: PEPtBO is located at Prince Edward Point, a National Wildlife Area. We are open from mid-April to the end of May for the spring migration and from mid-August to the end of October for the fall migration.
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Spring Birding Festival Bird Photography Contest
Spring Bird Count Guest Birder
Attached below is a Pledge sheet for our Spring Bird Count Guest Birder Conrad Beaubien.
Please support Conrad in his Spring Bird Count and help him raise funds for PEPtBO.
Click here to download a Conrad Beaubien Pledge Sheet.
PEPtBO Announcements
The Cheese Festival offers PEPtBO MEMBERS a discount on tickets because we are participants with our Bird Friendly coffee. Please see the notice below.
And a reminder that Connon’s Nursery is also offering a 10% rebate to PEPtBO of all items purchased by members and friends until June 15. Please see the notice below.
Previous Week's Reports
May 3rd - May 9th
Bird of the Week
May 3rd- May 9th 2013
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Worm-eating Warbler - the first ever for PEPtBO banded on May 6th. Photo© Marcos Perez.
Observation Highlights May 3rd - May 9th
A major wave of migration happened this week, with many new arrivals, including 13 species of warblers, during an above-average warm weather. We had a few days of over 200 banded birds earlier during this week, with a notable slow down in the last few days.
The first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was seen at our feeder on May the 7th.The first TENNESSEE WARBLER was easily detected while singing its little heart out on the 5th. The first NORTHERN PARULA was seen and heard on the 3rd, with observations throughout the rest of the week.
The first NORTHERN PARULA was seen and heard on the 3rd, with observations throughout the rest of the week.
140 species have been seen so far this SPRING. The highest total of species observed for the week was on May 4th with 52.
For up to date Daily and Weekly Observation Reports check out What's Around The Point.
Numerous Eastern White-crowned Sparrows were seen during the week. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Banding Highlights May 3rd - May 9th
916 birds representing 55 species were banded this week. We had a few days of over 200 banded birds earlier during this week, with a notable slow down in the last few days. Most notably, BLUE-WINGED and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS were observed and/or banded, with one individual of each species banded at the same time on the 4th! YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were at their peak migration time this week, with high numbers observed and banded. The biggest surprise of the week was a WORM-EATING WARBLER captured on the 6th and recaptured on the 7th, the first ever for PEPtBO.
Bird of the Week was a Worm-eating Warbler banded on May 2nd.
For a Weekly Summary of the number of each species and the totals banded go to the Weekly Banding Statistics menu item.
Blue-winged Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Golden-winged Warbler. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Blue-winged Warbler. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Scarlet Tanager. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Orange-crowned Warbler. Photo© Bruce Parker.
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Rusty Blackbird. Photo© Marcos Perez.
2013 Important Dates
• The Prince Edward County Birding Festival will be held from May 11th to May 20th 2013. • The PEPtB0 AGM will be held at Picton Legion on May 25 2013. We hope to see you this spring! |
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PEPtBO Website Updates
Check out the Bird of The Week Archive Page under the Photo Gallery Page to view the last 4 years of Bird of the Week Photos for both the Spring and Fall Banding Sessions.
Visit the Reports Page to view the yearly Banding Summary Reports for the Spring and Fall Banding Sessions prior to 2012.
PEPtBO Coffee Announcement
We are happy to announce that we have another thriving business selling our "Bird-friendly" Nicaraguan Shade Tree coffee in The County. Campbell's Orchards at 1633 County Road #3, Carrying Place, ON www.campbellsorchards.com is on board! Campbell's will grind coffee beans on the spot!
PEPtBO MEMBERSHIP 2013
Please Join With Us in 2013!
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.
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Photos© Bruce Parker.
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 2013 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.
In addition, PEPtBO is developing education modules matched to the elementary and secondary curricula. This material will be used for school groups visiting the banding station or by volunteers going to the classrooms. If you can volunteer to help put together the materials or act as a host/presenter for school groups please contact Peter Fuller.
Grade 11/12 Ecology class from Bayside Secondary School in Belleville |
To become a new member or renew your membership please download and print the following form:
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Membership Form 2013
For further information Click here.
PEPtBO Welcomes Larkwire
Learn Bird Sounds and Benefit Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory! Ever wish you knew how to identify birds by ear? It's one of the most essential birding skills, but one of the hardest to learn. Some folks from Seattle's Audubon chapter set out to make learning bird sounds truly accessible to everyone. The result is Larkwire: a game-based learning system that uses cognitive techniques to make it easier to learn and remember bird sounds. Combining quiz games, an extensive sound library, and tips from renowned birdsong expert Michael O'Brien, Larkwire makes the learning process not only much easier but fun. Customizable levels from beginner to advanced invite both the backyard birder and the serious student to play and learn.
The company behind Larkwire is a social venture whose mission is not only to teach birdsong; a minimum of ten percent of all proceeds go to support conservation. Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory has joined their affiliate program; enter our code when you purchase and we'll receive 20% of the purchase price! Our code: PRINBO
Click on the logo for more information.
Mailing Address for PEPtBO
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory |