Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Last Updated: January 29th 2012
PEPtBO MEMBERSHIP 2012
Please Join With Us in 2012!
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 2012 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 2012
For further information email: peptbo@yahoo.ca.
PEPtBO Area News
Miller Family Nature Reserve
The forebears of the Miller family farmed their 466 acre property on Prince Edward County’s south shore for three generations. Two years ago, the remaining family members approached Hastings Prince Edward Land Trust in the hopes of finding a solution which would protect the environment and honour their family roots. The Miller family accepted the offer to purchase the property and to preserve it in perpetuity as the “Miller Family Nature Reserve” with no industrial wind or commercial development of any kind.
The property is ecologically significant and lies within the PEC South Shore Globally Significant Important Birding Area (IBA). Threatened species recorded in or near the IBA include King Rail, Henslow’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Black Tern, and Least Bittern . The property is also in close proximity to Prince Edward Point, an International Monarch Butterfly Reserve. The whole south shore of Prince Edward County is a migrating route for bats, raptors, monarchs, and up to 263 species of birds. The project is being organized by the Hastings Prince Edward Land Trust. The Land Trust was founded in 1998 to conserve the natural and cultural heritage of our communities.
For more information about the project CLICK HERE.
PEPtBO Receives Support
PEPtBO greatly appreciate the support of Quinte Wildlife Conservation who have contributed to the purchase of mist nets for our Northern Saw-whet Owl and raptor banding programs.
Annual Fall Dinner 2011
Saturday October 22, marked the date of the 10th annual PEPtBO Fall Fund Raising Dinner. 72 guests enjoyed music by Rita DiGhent and Sam “the shark” Sharkawy. Our speaker, Mark Stabb from Nature Conservancy Canada, gave us an entertaining look at biodiversity in Ontario. The silent auction and bucket draws were fun and very successful. The evening raised approximately $4500 to support the work at PEPtBO. A very special vote of appreciation goes out to all contributors (listed below) and especially all our dinner guests.
Thank you to:
Picton Farm Supply |
Rose Haven Farm Store |
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Gilbert & Lighthall Marketplace |
Sheila Simmons |
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Black River Cheese |
Sunset Farms: the Rabbie Family |
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Stedman’s Department Store |
Aidan Haley |
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Peggy DeWitt |
Wayne McNulty |
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Sandbanks Vacations |
Marta Smith |
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Picton Home Hardware |
Bruce Milan |
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Quinte Conservation |
JEL Hair Studio |
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Debbie Smith |
Bird House (Wooler) |
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Dave Bourne |
Hagerman’s Farms |
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Seeley’s Clothing & Accessories |
Lorraine Fulham-Bouchard |
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Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex |
Merrill Inn |
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Paul Ross Woodturning |
Waring House |
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Portabella |
Kathy Terpstra |
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Casa Lucia |
Half Moon Bay Winery |
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Fuller Native and Rare Plants |
Mike Parry |
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Chef Michael Hoy |
Rosemary Smith |
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John Miller |
Side Street Gallery |
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Prince Edward Dental Hygiene Services |
Wellington Glassworks Mark Armstrong |
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Chris Kent |
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Mayhew’s Jewellery |
Myrna Wood |
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Gundrun Gallo |
Wellington Pharmacy |
PEPtBO In The News
Prince Edward Point. Photo© Bruce Parker.
In early October, Margo McDiarmid, the national environment reporter for CBC, visited PEPtBO to film the banding operations and to see first hand this very significant Important Bird Area (IBA), so designated because of its importance to millions of migrating birds. The resulting piece tries to explore what happens when two equally valid environmental positions come into conflict with each other.
To Watch the CBC report |
PEPtBO NSWO Fall Banding Ends
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL BANDING
A large number of visitors have come to PEPtBO to see the Northern Saw-whet Owl banding this fall. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Northern Saw-whet Owl Photo© Bruce Parker.
Barred Owl Photo© Bruce Parker.
To check for more details on this fall's owl banding |
PEPtBO Fall Banding Ends - Last Reports
Week Eleven - New Sparrow and Owl Species
October 21st - October 27th Report
Birds of the Week
October 21st - October 27th 2011
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Long-eared Owl. Photos© David Okines/Luis Villamil.
(Mouse over the image to see another photo.)
Northern Shrike. Photos© Luis Villamil.
Observation Highlights October 21st - October 27th
RED-NECKED GREBES put in an appearance with 15 seen on the 22nd and 6 the next day. 65 BRANT flew past on the 22nd. Offshore the numbers of ducks is increasing with up to 3000 GREATER SCAUP and 500 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS being present. The 22nd saw the first LONG-TAILED DUCKS of the fall with 6 present, 25 was the peak on the 26th, BUFFLEHEAD returned on the 23rd and 150 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen on the 23rd. BALD EAGLES were seen most days, A few raptors were moving on the 22nd with notables of 40 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 18 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 3 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 85 RED-TAILED HAWKS and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES going over. Another GOLDEN EAGLE was seen the next day as well. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were seen on the beach on the 22nd and the 27th, the latter date had 2 birds present. A family group of 7 COMMON RAVENS was seen on the 24th. 6 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were present on the 23rd with two being seen the next day. Only five species of warbler were seen this week. Icterids continue to move in good numbers especially RUSTY BLACKBIRDS with four dates having over a hundred counted including the peak count of 800 on the 22nd. 15 PINE SISKINS were seen on the 25th.
163 species have been seen so far this FALL. The highest total of species observed for the week was on October 23rd with 64.
For up to date Daily and Weekly Observation Reports check out What's Around The Point.
Spotted Sandpiper. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Northern Goshawk. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Red-necked Grebes. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Banding Highlights October 21st - October 27th
Amongst the new species trapped this week was the first and probably the only LINCOLN'S SPARROW of the fall, banded on the latest ever date for here of the 22nd. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were moving most of the week with 226 banded. A very late NORTHERN PARULA was banded on the 21st. A new fall record total was recorded for RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Included in the list of most numerous species banded for the week were SLATE-COLORED JUNCO, GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN CREEPER and HERMIT THRUSH.
Other new species for the week were BARRED OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, NORTHERN SHRIKE, FIELD SPARROW, NORTHERN CARDINAL, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and HOUSE FINCH.
Birds of the Week were LONG-EARED OWL and NORTHERN SHRIKE.
For a Weekly Summary of the number of each species and the totals banded go to the Weekly Banding Statistics menu item.
To compare the number of each species banded for the same period in 2010 and for the last 4 weeks go to the Comparative Statistics menu item.
Northern Cardinal. Photos© David Okines.
Purple Finch. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Field Sparrow. Photos© Luis Villamil.
Lincoln's Sparrow. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Week Ten - New Species and Another Record
October 14th - October 20th Report
Bird of the Week
October 14th - October 20th 2011
(Mouse over the image to see another photo.)
Merlins banded October 19th set a new fall record for the species. Photos© David Okines.
Observation Highlights October 14th - October 20th
COMMON LOONS have started to move with up to 6 a day being seen. TURKEY VULTURES continue to move with the peak of 100 seen on the 19th. The 19th also saw a flock of 20 BRANT go past. 2 GOLDEN EAGLES were noted together on the 20th. EASTERN PHOEBE’S are increasing with a peak of 6 seen on two dates. BLUE-HEADED VIREOS continue to move with 10 to 20 seen a day, the 18th though saw 45 present. The bulk of the birds in the bushes these days are CREEPERS, KINGLETS and HERMIT THRUSHES, the 18th saw 50 BROWN CREEPERS present with up to 20 being seen on other days. The 18th also saw 75 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and 110 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS present with the 20th having 60 and 75 present respectively. Three AMERICAN PIPITS were seen on the 17th and 20th. Just 7 species of warbler were seen this week. 4 NASHVILLE WARBLERS were seen on the 14th and 2 more were seen on the 18th, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS have dropped to just 1 or 2 a day and MYRTLE WARBLERS peaked at 100 on the 18th. WESTERN PALM WARBLERS were seen on the 16th and 18th and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were still present on the 17th. A few CHIPPING SPARROWS are moving and a VESPER SPARROW and a SAVANNAH SPARROW were seen on the 20th. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS continue to move in big numbers with peaks of 227 on the 16th, 410 on the 19th and 380 on the 20th.
158 species have been seen so far this FALL. The highest total of species observed for the week was on October 18th and 20th with 49.
For up to date Daily and Weekly Observation Reports check out What's Around The Point.
Brown Creeper. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Golden-crowned Kinglet. Photo© Bruce Parker.
Banding Highlights October 14th - October 20th
The windy and wet weather has kept us from banding NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS on most nights but 20 were banded on the 17th/18th and 27 were banded the following night. A late Philadelphia Vireo was trapped on the 18th. A GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH was banded on the 17th and was the first of that ilk for nearly two weeks. A late BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER was banded on the 20th and a PINE WARBLER, the first for the fall, was caught on the 18th. The first FOX SPARROW of the fall was banded on the 14th and the first PURPLE FINCH of the fall on the 18th. The bulk of the birds banded this week included BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, BROWN CREEPERS, GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, HERMIT THRUSHES and MYRTLE WARBLERS.
Bird of the Week were 2 MERLINS banded on the 19th, a new fall record total for the species.
For a Weekly Summary of the number of each species and the totals banded go to the Weekly Banding Statistics menu item.
To compare the number of each species banded for the same period in 2010 and for the last 4 weeks go to the Comparative Statistics menu item.
Pine Warbler, first of the fall. Photo© David Okines.
Fox Sparrow, first of the fall. Photo© Bruce Parker.
For Directions to Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory click here.
*Change of Mailing Address for PEPtBO* Our mailing address has changed. Our new address is: Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory |