The Launch of the 2001-2005 Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

The 1981-1985 Breeding Bird Atlas, a project that will take place every 20 years (the 2001-2005 Atlas features a Prairie Warbler).

The Atlas Launch at the ROM on Feb. 10, 2008 was a huge success. A capacity crowd was in attendance as Mike Cadman, Gregor Peck, Donald Sutherland, Denis Lepage, and Andrew Couturier introduced the 2001-2005 Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario. Most importantly, it was a place where politicians, conservationists, researchers, professors, environmentalists, and the public were able to get together to discuss the results of the Atlas, its importance to Ontario birds, and the next steps that have to be taken now that the 2001-2005 Atlas is over (the next will take place in 20 years, as 20 years before now the last Atlas was published). You could sense the magnitude of the project when talking to any birder or naturalist. The excitement in the room was palpable.

When Mike Cadman was called upon to make his speech, he received a much-deserved standing ovation. A project of this undertaking requires passion, perseverance, and hard work that only the most dedicated individual would be able to accomplish. An 8 year project spanning the province with thousands of volunteers, researchers, representatives, writers, and editors volunteering their time and efforts. His speech had a hard-hitting message. The launch certainly does not mean the end for the 2001-2005 Atlas. Addressing the members of Environment Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and other organizations, Cadman stressed that now is the time to use the wealth of knowledge available to us on Ontario's bird populations to examine (and hopefully solve) the many problems facing birds due to human activity. Bird populations that are on the rise are perfect examples of the success of conservation. Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Trumpeter Swan. These species are prime examples of how peoples' conservation efforts have not gone unnoticed. On the other hand, species such as grassland birds and insect-eating species like swallows and nighthawks are on the decline. Although we can only begin to guess why this is the case, the results of the Atlas provide an imperative baseline for any future research on these and other species.

I have had a chance to look through my Atlas and it is a spectacular publication. Hundreds of photos are available, maps for every species (including possible, probable, and confirmed breeding sites as well as abundance maps which were made possible by the hundreds of point counts performed across the province). If you haven't already ordered or purchased a copy, now is the time to get it. All added proceeds go directly to the conservation of Ontario birds.

For me, the launch was not only an opportunity to make contacts and talk with some of Ontario's best birders, but also a reminder of the importance of bird study. As I've said before, birds are one of our best environmental indicators we have and this Atlas provides a starting point for addressing environmental impact in the future. The launch was an inspiration. I left feeling empowered to get out there and continue to study and watch birds, which brings me to my final point. Yes, there are men and women who are leaders in bird research and conservation but where would they be without birdwatchers? Birdwatchers that go out on their own time and volunteer their own eyes and ears to the study of birds every day. Birdwatchers whose skills and reports provide a basis for bird study in Ontario and beyond. Birdwatchers are making a difference. They really are. And in my own eyes, I can't think of a better, more rewarding hobby.

Website Copyright Plight

My apologies for the lack of Cerulean Sky updates of late. I'm actually reworking many of my past posts as I received two separate notices in one week regarding copyrighted pictures and posting them illegally on my blog. I am sorry to anyone who was affected by this. I am currently removing any and all pictures that I did not have permission to post on my blog (perhaps all but five). It's taken a while because I've had this blog for months now but I'm almost finished. Further apologies for how plain/bland things are going to look from now on (unless I get a better camera, but a spotting scope is next on my wish list)! In the future, I hope to find a few people who will be willing to allow me to use their pictures so I can at least spice up my blog a wee bit...but also to improve my writing skills to make up for the lack of visual stimulation. To be frank, I was pretty surprised when I got the first email but I completely understand the concern from a photographer's perspective. I'm sure it can be difficult to sell photos and a lot of work went into each and every one of them. So it makes sense that someone would want to copyright their work so they receive credit for it. In my ignorance, I simply posted pictures all over, basically stealing someone else's work for the benefit of beautifying my little ol' blog space.

A is an Auk of the Arctic Sea

Project Gutenberg is a website that allows free viewing of published works whose copyrights have expired in the United States. It's a great website where you can view a ton of ebooks online (even though it can hurt your eyes to read off the screen for too long). Anyway, check out the simple but great Illustrated Alphabet of Birds when you get the chance. It's a quick read. There are some really interesting books on the site dealing with identification and avian art from years back that are worth a look, too.

GTA Reporting Guidelines "out of date," says Compiler Roy Smith

To update an earlier post on the subject, I received an email back from Roy Smith about how Toronto sightings are compiled. Unfortunately, the Greater Toronto Area Bird Checklist and Reporting Guidelines of 2000, written by Glenn Coady and Smith, is out of date (excellent, but out of date). Year to year, the significance of individual species sightings can change drastically. Take, for example, this year. At the end of 2007 and into 2008, the guidelines changed to include all sightings of Common Redpoll concentrations as well as Pine Grosbeaks to monitor the invasion of winter finches due to seed crop failure in the north. Another Toronto-specific example is the Glaucous Gull. Pre-2000, the cutoff # for reporting this species was 5. Now, however, all Glaucous Gulls are to be reported after the Keele Valley Landfill was shut down as fewer birds are now seen. Another good example, as Roy explained, is the case of birds affected by the West Nile virus. American Crow apparently has very poor data at the current time because very few people report sightings of this species (particularly numbers). Therefore, the only data for the GTA area on the crow is from Christmas Bird Counts or other specific events through the year. Smith also informs me that the number of people reporting in the GTA has dropped significantly, an unfortunate problem that I bet almost every area compiler experiences.

As of now, I do not believe the GTA has a seasonal status book like most other areas do. Bob Curry's book on the birds of Hamilton is excellent and Point Pelee has decently updated seasonal bars, but ideally, a book will be published for Pelee exploring early and late migration dates, peak numbers, and notable sightings. Personally, I think seasonal statuses can be a great learning tool, even if they are only averages and the next year might prove quite different from that preceding it. Although the status and distribution of birds is static and ever-changing, there is always the need to keep reports and observations up to date, not only for the benefit of birders but also to monitor populations. Particularly now, as climate change will no doubt largely affect movement, migration, and distribution of many North American species.

Good Idea, Bad Idea

Usually, I wouldn't provide advertising for a company on Cerulean Sky, but this Superbowl ad for FedEx is just too good to pass up.

You can watch the link here. I plan to expand my blog more in the future, discussing issues on conservation as well as providing all of my sightings, any interest stories from Ontario and worldwide, and also fun stuff like this video. Hope you enjoy!

The Rise and Fall of Ontario's Birds

While reading Blake Mann's blog, I noticed that he mentioned the decline of grassland species. A recent article in The Toronto Star also eluded to this concern after the results of the latest Ontario Breeding Bird Survey indicate a drop in grassland and insect-eating species due to habitat fragmentation and pesticides (and possibly climate change, as suggested in the Star article). I'm looking forward to there being more information presented at the Atlas launch this Sunday at the ROM and I can't wait to get my hands on my copy. I'm also planning on reading Silence of the Songbirds, which also provides evidence of farming, pesticides, and habitat fragmentation as the key problems affecting songbird populations.

On the other hand, apparently there has been an increase in species such as Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle, which have benefited greatly from conservation programs and the banning of DDT. It should be no surprise that other species that are on the rise include the swans (great effort has been put into the reintroduction {introduction?} of Trumpeter Swan into its proposed historical range) and the Wild Turkey, another species showing success after numerous reintroduction programs. Undoubtedly, hardy species that adapt quickly to the presence of humans will flourish in the next century.

Perhaps most worrisome is the drop in insect-eating species, particularly the Chimney Swift and Common Nighthawk, which are now considered threatened species in Ontario.

From the article:

Top 10 decreasing bird species in Ontario:

Common nighthawk
Chimney swift
Bank swallow
Blue-winged teal
Red-headed woodpecker
Barn swallow
Cliff swallow
Brown-headed cowbird
Spotted sandpiper
Killdeer

Top 10 increasing bird species:

Canada goose
House finch
Blue-headed vireo
Turkey vulture
Wild turkey
Merlin
Eastern bluebird
Pine warbler
Bald eagle
Sandhill crane

Some interesting finds include Pine Warbler and House Finch being in the top ten increasing species list (particularly the House Finch after the breakout of fatal diseases in some finch species), Brown-headed Cowbird on the decline (a grassland species that replaces other songbird eggs with its own), and Blue-winged Teal in the top 10 declining species. The Blue-winged Teal is one of my favourite birds and to see it on this list is disheartening (mind you, to see that any of these species are showing significant declines is worrisome). To me, this demonstrates the importance of bird counts such as Christmas Bird Counts, feeder watches, and the Breeding Bird Survey in pushing for conservation and providing the 'canary in the coal mine' with birds as environmental indicators.

Lifer! Barred Owl / and also: Leslie Street Spit and the search for Pine Grosbeaks

Due to work, I've had little time to provide an update for last weekend but I'm happy to now report it was a great success. I finally know why so many people talk about the Leslie Street Spit, which must be one of Toronto's most unique birding locations; a large peninsula piercing Lake Ontario on the city's east end and made up of concrete, metal, and stone. The area, also known as Tommy Thompson Park is a 5 kilometer stretch that is man-made and through much effort, the land is now a safe-haven for many birds, mammals, and other wildlife. I was not disappointed with my first trip.

8:30 in the morning was our starting point as Anne Marie, a friend I met through the TOC, gave me a tour of the park, finding many of the highlights that have been reported over the last few weeks. Not long into our walk, we found an American Kestrel along the road in the center of the peninsula. Shortly after, the flashing wings of a Northern Shrike compelled us to venture into the various woodlots within the park. There we saw our first owl, a resting Great Horned that was quickly perturbed by a group of photographers (we had two birds for sure, possibly even three individuals). To me, you really haven't experienced the beauty of the Great Horned Owl until you've heard its rhythmic, mourning call at dusk, or seen it fly by on silent, richly coloured wings. We were fortunate to have one fly just over our heads; a bulky bird the size of a buteo that eventually perched high in a deciduous tree where it apparently spent the rest of the day. Owls we missed (but that have been reported this winter) included Northern Saw-whet Owl, Short-eared Owl, and Long-eared Owl.

Being a milder weekend, we were able to find some landbirds including American Tree Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker, a single Northern Flicker (an unexpected surprise), Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Song Sparrows, and a small flock of Snow Buntings in the fields adjacent to the aptly named 'Cormorant Graveyard'. During the summer months, skeletons of nestling birds demonstrate the grisly reality of natural selection (larger, strong birds often push small, weak birds out of the nest). Black-feathered carcasses hang from some branches.

Along the way, we found the Barred Owl, a first for me and a great bird. Perched on a branch not 20 feet from the ground, we had good looks and were able to walk full circle around the bird to admire all of its features. The owl was well aware of our presence, its black eyes following us wherever we walked.

We also had a few Red-tailed Hawks and an assortment of common waterfowl on the lake (the highlight was that many ducks are pairing off right now so we were able to watch the mating displays of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Goldeneye while the incessant OW OWELEP! of the Long-tailed Ducks provided song).

We ended the trip around 2:00 in the afternoon fairly exhausted from the long walk through deep snow (my lack of proper winter boots is definitely a problem, but heated socks help immensely). On Sunday, I took a walk around Mt. Pleasant Cemetery hoping to find a flock of Pine Grosbeaks but to no avail. I did, however, see a few White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, a few Goldfinches, a Red-tailed Hawk, and of course, Black-capped Chickadees. On my trips to work (which sometimes requires taking transit way out to Scarborough), I've been watching the tops of trees for any large finches but haven't been lucky enough yet...and anyway, imagine the frustration of seeing a new species through the window of a speeding subway car.