Special Events Spring 2010!
Spring Birding Festival Reports
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory 2010 Spring Bird Count and Baillie Birdathon Highlights
The Spring Bird Count wrap up was held on May 29th as part of the PEPtBO AGM. The Bird Count provides much needed funds for the operation of the Bird Observatory and the executive sincerely thanks all the participants and their sponsors. Twenty– eight individuals registered to take part in the 2010 PEPtBO Spring Bird Count. The total number of species seen, 158, was down this year, probably as a result of 
the unusually warm weather. The Laphaoig Vultures reclaimed the trophy for the most species seen at 133. Close behind them were Terry Sprague and his team and the Dew Drops. Both these teams identified 120 species. Terry received the prize for the most money raised - over $1600. Special prizes were awarded to Gibson Cooke – youngest birder at 6 years old with a respectable 80 species; and, to George Pearce for being the most enthusiastic first time bird counter. Finally, special recognition was given to the Dew Drops team for their continuing wholehearted participation. Three additional prizes were awarded by draw. Theresa Durning won our speaker, Bridget Stutchbury’s new book The Bird Detective; Chris Early’s book Sparrows and Finches was won by Nick and Anne Chapman and Rosemary Smith won two passes to a Festival Players production.
Participants: Cheryl Anderson, Jeanette Arsenault*, Kris Balinski, John Blaney, Andrew Cadman**, Nick & Anne Chapman, Gibson Cooke, Joanne Dewey*, Sarah Dewey*, Sandra Dowds, Erica Dunn, Brian & Gloria Durell, Theresa Durning*, Fiona Emdin, Nancy Fox*, Charles Francis, Lorraine Fullum-Bouchard, Michael Gelman, Jeremy Hussell, Judy Kent*, Rosemary Kent*, Eric Machell, David Okines**, George Pearce, Agneta Sand, Rosemary Smith, Terry Sprague
*Dew Drops ** Laphaoig Vulture
Who is that "cooling his heels"?
To read some of the reports from this year's Birdathon teams click on the PDF links below.
Cheryl Anderson 2010 Birdathon Report
Terry Sprague 2010 Birdathon Report
The Laphroaig Vultures 2010 Birdathon Report
The Dewdrops Birdathon Team
Guided Bird Hikes at Point Traverse May 8th to May 16th
As is the case almost every spring. a variety of weather conditions greeted birders who gathered each morning at 800 a.m. at Point Travers Woods for the annual Spring Birding Festival hikes. The wallks were led again by Terry Sprague with assistance on several mornings from Owen Weir and Rosemary Smith. There were numerous highlights over the 9 days including a large fallout of migrants on Friday May 15th that prompted Terry to declare that the last 2 days of the hikes were some of the best birding he has experienced in 50 Years of birding! The HARLEQUIN DUCKS were present every day and rarities seen during the walks included CERULEAN WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, GOLDEN-WINGED and BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. Our thanks to everyone from Toronto, Ottawa, Barrie, Haliburton, Peterborough, Hamilton, Tweed and Quebec, just to name a few of the place names that cropped up in conversation who supported the event this spring by their attendance. Nearly 80 birders joined us on the morning walks and hundreds of others were present who birded on their own.
Birders At Point Traverse Photo© Terry Sprague
To read a summary of the birds that were seen on Terry's Point Traverse hikes click on the PDF link below.
Point Traverse Birding Festival Hikes 2010
Photo© Terry Sprague
Bird Banding Demonstrations at the Observatory
Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory continues to demonstrate its valued contribution as a full-time migration monitoring station with large numbers of birds banded, significant foreign recoveries, and other observations. The main focus of the Observatory is the banding and observation of Neotropical migrants. This is complemented with a significant Northern Saw-whet Owl banding program in October.
The Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) was started in 1996; PEPTBO became a provisional member in 1997 and a full member in 1999. Currently there are 26 full members collecting standardized sets of data across Canada. The data that PEPTBO collects is analyzed by Bird Studies Canada and species trends are produced.
Visitors to this year's Spring Birding Festival had an opportunity to view and learn about the banding process and the role it plays in monitoring the health of bird populations. Banding demonstrations took place on the weekend days of May 8th, 9th 15th and 16th.
Photos© Bruce Parker
Banding Demonstrations Were Seen By Many Visitors During the Festival
THE ART OF FLIGHT
Black Prince Winery 13370 Loyalist Parkway, Picton, Ontario
Now in its third year The Art of Flight was the product of a new partnership between the Black Prince Winery and the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. The theme of the show, The Art of Flight, celebrated the miracle of the annual migration of thousand of birds through Prince Edward County en route to and from their nesting sites in the Boreal forest.
This year's version for The Art of Flight Art Show and Sale was a success with over 400 visitors and 18 sales with a portion of the proceeds being donated to PEPtBO. The Black Prince Winery also donated one dollar to PEPtBO for every 'Art of Flight" bottle of wine sold. A special thank you to our volunteers who offered to "sit the show" and to share with artists and public alike the nature and importance of the work that we do at the Observatory.
PEPtBO'S AGM and Baillie Birdathon Wrap Up Dinner
This Year's Event Was Held At the Picton Legion Photo© Bruce Parker
There was a change of location for this year's Annual General Meeting along with a new format. On Saturday 29 May 2010 PEPtBO members were joined by members of the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists at the Picton Legion. After a delicious dinner catered by Wheelhouse Catering the evening began with the AGM and the President's report delivered by Rosemary Kent.
Rosemary Kent Talked About Improved Communication at PEPtBO Photo© Bruce Parker
Bander-in-Charge David Okines followed with the Station Manager's Report.
BIC David Okines Photo© Bruce Parker
Some Impressive Accomplishments Photos© Bruce Parker
Volunteer Co-ordinator Fran Donaldson presented two Volunteer Appreciation Awards to former board member Nancy Fox and long time volunteer from England Andrew Cadman.
Nancy Fox Receives Volunteer Award From Fran Donaldson Photo© Bruce Parker
Andrew Cadman Who Comes From England Every Year To Help Out At PEPtBO Photo© Bruce Parker
Cheryl Anderson presided over the Baillie Birdathon results and handed out special awards to all those who participated.
Cheryl Presents Theatre TicketsTo A Lucky Birdathon Participant Photo© Bruce Parker
Two Members of The Dew Drops With Their Special Hats Photos© Bruce Parker
The keynote speaker for the eventing was Bridget Stutchbury. Dr. Stutchbury, holds the Canada Research Chair in Ecology and Conservation biology in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science & Engineering at York University and is the author of Silence of the Songbirds and The Bird Detective.
Dr. Bridget Stutchbury Talked About Her Latest Book - The Bird Detective
Dr. Stutchbury spoke about her research on songbird migration and the "secret lives" 
that some species live on their breeding grounds. Her research team mapped migration routes of migratory songbirds to the Neotropics by using light-level geolocators mounted on breeding purple martins and wood thrushes. Data from the geolocators indicated that songbirds can fly in excess of 500 km per day, according to Dr. Stutchbury. Previous studies estimated their flight performance at roughly 150 km per day.
Dr. Stutchbury also talked about her research with Hooded Warblers and Blue-headed Vireos in Pennsylvania and delighted the audience with her findings about what these birds are up to during the breeding season. It was definitely something different from what was expected!
To read a new review of her latest book The Bird Detective Click Here.