A Migration Monitoring Research Station

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A Migration Monitoring Research Station
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Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory

• Established in spring of 1995
• Located at the SE point of Prince Edward County
• Co-founders Eric Machell and Brian Joyce
• Continuing the efforts of the Kingston Field
  Naturalist in the 60s, 70s 80s
• Originally supported by
• The Canadian Wildlife Service
• James L. Baillie Fund

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As an Organization

• Volunteer-based organization
• Incorporation and charitable status in 1999
• Volunteers from
• The local community
• University students
• National and International volunteers
• Local Naturalist Groups
• Other observatories

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Migration Monitoring Where It All Began!

• Long Point Bird Observatory in 1961
• Its purpose?
• To monitor populations of songbirds
• Determine location of wintering and breeding
  grounds
• Monitor the health of the environment
• Identify migratory routes used in North America
• Health of bird species especially those
  classified as
• Threatened OR
• Endangered

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The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Board of Directors President Brian Joyce Past
President Eric Machell Vice President Judy
Kent Membership Chair Joanne Dewey Treasurer -
Rosemary Kent Recording Secretary - Wallace
Rendell Volunteer Chair Fran Donaldson Director
- Don Chisholm Director - Bruce Parker Director
Cheryl Anderson Director Karen Holder Rendell
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What is Migration Monitoring?
Migration monitoring occurs during the spring and
fall season when birds are moving north and south
16 stations across North America capture
songbirds to gather information about their
health and the environment

• Operations at the banding station include
• Bird banding
• Daily observations
• Census route

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Steps to Bird Banding
Bird Banding involves the use of
Mist nets Ground traps Jay traps
1. Birds are extracted from traps
2. Birds are placed in cotton bags and brought
back to banding lab
All volunteers are trained on proper technique in
removing birds from nets and traps Net rounds are
completed every 20 minutes
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Back at the Banding Station

• Banders Duties
• An aluminum band is placed around the leg of the
  bird
• The band contains a 9 10 digit number
• The bander gathers the following information
  about the bird
• Species of bird
• Sex (if possible)
• Age (if possible)
• Fat content
• Wing length
• Weight
• Once Information is collected the bird is released

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Daily Operations

• Observations
• Volunteers observe the total number of birds and
  species during the day
• This information is recorded in the Banding log
• Census
• One or several individuals walk a one hour census
  route
• All bird species and total numbers observed are
  recorded

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Prince Edward Point an IBA
In 1998, Prince Edward Point was designated as an
Globally Important Birding Area (IBA)

• Populations of 3 waterfowl species exceed more
  than 1 of the worlds population
• White-winged Scoter
• Greater Scaup
• Long-tailed Duck
• Numbers of nearly 200,000 have been seen at
  PEPtBO

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Canadian Migration Monitoring Network(CMMN)

• PEPtBO became a member in 1998
• Only full-time migration monitoring Station along
  Lake Ontario
• Operates 6 8 weeks each spring and 12
  15 weeks each fall
• In approximately 120 weeks, over 65,000 birds of
  152 species have been recorded
• One of only 16 stations across Canada
• Over 50 volunteers participate each year

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Funding and Funders
In 2001, the PEPtBO received a 150,000 grant
from the Ontario Trillium Foundation

• Funds from the grant allowed the observatory
  to
• Renovate the old banding station
• Bring plumbing and solar power to the station
• Hire a full-time bander
• Begin monitoring the fall migration season
• Develop educational programs
• Build a new banding lab

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Other Funders!

• Canadian Wildlife Service
• Bird Study Canada
• George Cedric Metcalf Foundation
• Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation
• Managed by the Toronto Community Foundation

• Baillie Birdathon
• James L. Baillie Fund
• Friends of the Environment, TD/Canada trust
• Quinte Field Naturalist
• Shell Canada

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Bird Banding Statistics from 1995 - 2006
New Record!
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Top Ten Overall Species
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Amazing Recoveries
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How You Can Help!

• Volunteering
• Becoming a member
• Donations

• Contributions to our wish list
• Helping out at fundraising events

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PEPtBOs Goals
1) To maintain operations during the spring and
fall migration
2) Develop stronger partnerships within the
community
3) Secure funding opportunities and reach
sustainability
4) Continue to monitor the health of our
feathered friends in the hopes of preventing
their extinction and ours!
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Future Projects

• The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory is
  looking for help on several projects

• The construction of an interpretive/class room
• The construction of a mudroom
• Core funding each year to keep our Bander
  position
• Partnerships and support for new fundraising
  events

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What PEPtBO Has to Offer

• Positive and extensive press coverage
• Recognition in newsletters websites
• Partnering in environmental projects
• Publicity in all media/fundraising events
• Recognition onsite at the observatory

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT