December 2010 - Bird Protection Quebec

Bird Protection Quebec
THE SONG SPARROW
A somewhat
surprised
owl alertly
checks out
the banders
at the MBO.
Read about
the MBO’s
fascinating
Nocturnal
Owl
Migration
Monitoring
Program in
this issue.
Simon Duval
How BPQ Supports Important Bird Research
Richard Gregson, Chair: BPQ Research Committee
Every year, BPQ gives financial support to
individuals and groups carrying out research into
many under-investigated aspects of Quebec birdlife.
The article that follows, written for us by Pascal
Côté, the director of the bird banding station
(OOT) at Tadoussac, describes one such project that
has been enabled by support from BPQ. Please read
his report – it is truly fascinating.
The scientists who carry out these important
studies often find it hard to obtain funding for their
work. There are many reasons for this, as you can
The Newsletter of Bird imagine in these days of stringent budgetary
Protection Quebec
restrictions, and so it all the more essential that
Editor: Jane Cormack charities such as ours are here to offer what we can
and make sure suitable studies can go ahead. Often
the projects we are involved in are performed by
Vol: 53-3
PhD students at one of the Quebec universities but
December 2010
more and more we find ourselves working with
Layout:
Richard Gregson
Content Highlights
The Song Sparrow
Proofreading:
Jean Bacon, Averill
Craig, Réjean Duval,
Alain Goulet, Fréderic
Hareau, Jean Harwood
Gregson, Zofia Laubitz
1
2 President’s message
3 Banding at Tadoussac
4 Nocturnal Owl Monitoring
8 Equipment review
9 Bird Views/Parlons oiseaux
longer-term investigations such as the multi-year
studies of bird migration conducted at
establishments such as the OOT, the Migration
Research Foundation and the McGill Bird
Observatory. It is remarkable what is still not known
and what is yet to be learned.
Our work in these fields is little known outside
the scientific arena and so we hope that Pascal’s
article, describing just one such project, will
demonstrate to all our members and partners that
the work of BPQ is of considerable importance in
extending our knowledge of birds and their
behaviour. We are proud and fortunate to be able to
facilitate studies such as these – all thanks to your
support and your valued donations.
Follow Pascal’s article on Page 3:
12 Bicknell’s Thrush
15 Meeting Reviews
18 Field Trip Reports
20 Forthcoming Field Trips
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
The President’s Column
Winter is fast approaching. I must admit that it is not my favourite time of year. After all it is more difficult to get around and
birdlife is considerably scarcer than in any other season. That said I greatly look forward to two events on my late fall and early
winter calendar: the annual Bluebird box cleaning at Mount Royal Cemetery and the Montreal and Hudson Christmas Bird
Counts.
Mount Royal Bluebird Box Program
Bluebird boxes have been part of the landscape at the cemetery for many years. Perhaps the initial placement was the result
of the discovery that the Mount Murray area in the cemetery attracted nesting bluebirds. To my knowledge the Mount Royal
Park complex, including the cemetery, is the only place in downtown Montreal where they breed.
A few years ago, Helen Meredith took on the responsibility to manage the
approximately 70 boxes there. Under Helen's capable management we now have
a small group of dedicated helpers who have mapped all the boxes, check them
annually to record nests, and clean them to prepare for the next breeding season.
Our knowledge of nesting success has been greatly assisted by Chuck Kling who
visits the cemetery regularly to photograph and observe nesting. This year, thanks
to a donation from Mark Brenchley of Brentech (514-489-9578), we now have
small plastic number plates which we have affixed to all the boxes. This will make
it easier to identify the boxes and record any nesting activity taking place.
This year our annual cleanout took place on November 6th. About a dozen
people in four groups identified the nests of four species: Eastern Bluebird,
House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee and Tree Swallow.
We are now fairly comfortable with our program. With four years’ data to
work with we hope next year to move some unproductive boxes to new locations
where Chuck has observed bluebirds. If you are interested in getting involved
with our bluebird box program please contact Helen evenings at
Eastern Bluebird nest found in box #26.
514-369-2778.
Mount Royal Cemetery November 6, 2010. (A second unhatched egg was discovered on
Montreal and Hudson Christmas Bird Counts
the ground when the egg was removed. It
seems certain that the same pair raised four
I like Christmas Bird counts because they offer a really good reason to
young in box #29 a little later in the season.)
spend the whole day in the field with lots of other people, whatever the
Photo by Chuck Kling.
weather. My participation goes back to the early 1970s in Ottawa. I have
been participating annually ever since in Ontario, Newfoundland, and now in
Quebec.
What started off one hundred years ago as an alternative to the annual Christmas bird “shoot” has captured the
imagination of successive generations of North American birders. The annual Christmas bird counts now provide an important
long-term data source on early winter bird populations. They also provide an interesting snapshot on the ups and downs of
various resident and migratory species and record the northern expansion of the populations of southern species which in our
area include Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal and House Finch.
This year the Montreal count takes place on Saturday, December 18th. The Hudson count, managed by Alison Bentley,
will take place on Sunday January 2nd, 2011. This year will be Alison's last as compiler as she will be moving to the Laurentians
to take over the management of Camp Tamaracouta. We owe her a great debt for many years of service and wish her well!
If you have not been a participant in our counts please consider getting involved. We conclude the Montreal count with a
social and compilation in the welcoming atmosphere of the Montreal West Curling Club. You can get more details from me.
The Hudson count finishes with a compilation and get-together at the Bentley’s. For more information, please contact Alison at
450-458-4428.
Jeff Harrison
Tel: 514-486-4943
2
email: [email protected]
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Suivi migratoire printanier à Tadoussac : des
résultats surprenants!
par Pascal Côté, directeur de l’OOT
En ornithologie, le printemps est toujours synonyme d’excitation. Des millions d’oiseaux provenant des États-Unis,
d’Amérique centrale ou du Sud arrivent progressivement sur leurs territoires de nidification, laissant sur leur passage des
ornithologues émerveillés. Quel beau sentiment que celui de partir en randonnée par une journée du mois de mai et de découvrir
des dizaines d’espèces de parulines, viréos, grives et moucherolles s’alimentant dans les bosquets et les arbres d’un boisé du sud du
Québec. Pour l’observateur contemplatif, ce spectacle est savoureux; pour le chercheur, il s’accompagne néanmoins d’un
pincement au cœur.
En effet, ces passereaux néotropicaux migrent de nuit, ce qui rend les suivis migratoires classiques (baguage et relevés visuels)
peu efficaces pour établir des tendances précises sur l’état des populations. En fait, bien que ce groupe d’espèces ait fait l’objet
d’un nombre grandissant d’études, aucun suivi à long terme n’a encore été entrepris à une échelle suffisante pour évaluer avec
précision l’état des populations. Ceci est particulièrement vrai dans le cas de 80 espèces d’oiseaux terrestres dont l’aire de
nidification se situe largement au nord du réseau routier et se trouve par conséquent peu accessible pour y effectuer des
inventaires. Parmi ces espèces, on retrouve entre autres la Paruline rayée, la Paruline tigrée, la Paruline à calotte noire et la
Paruline obscure.
Il existe bel et bien des outils qui permettent d’étudier les migrations nocturnes, et notamment les systèmes bio-acoustiques et
les radars météorologiques, mais ces derniers ont leurs limites. Ces systèmes offrent en fait deux alternatives : obtenir une bonne
approximation du nombre de migrateurs sur un périmètre pouvant atteindre plusieurs kilomètres, mais sans pouvoir identifier les
espèces détectées (radar), ou identifier les espèces migratrices, mais uniquement sur un périmètre très limité (système bioacoustique). De plus, pour le moment, il n’existe aucun programme informatique permettant d’analyser rapidement et avec
précision les cris en vol enregistrés par les systèmes bio-acoustiques, rendant donc cette technique peu efficace.
Idéalement, pour assurer un suivi migratoire adéquat, il serait nécessaire de réunir des conditions permettant d’identifier les
espèces de migrateurs nocturnes tout en les dénombrant. L’Observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac (OOT) semblait offrir un site
réunissant de telles conditions. Depuis quelques décennies, plusieurs observations faisaient état de mouvements migratoires
diurnes de passereaux néotropicaux pendant la migration printanière en Haute-Côte-Nord. Selon les rapports d’observation,
certains mouvements massifs comptaient des milliers de migrateurs. Afin de mieux comprendre ce phénomène, l’OOT a entrepris
au printemps 2009 un projet pilote entièrement bénévole d’une durée de 12 jours (du 11 au 22 mai). Ce projet comprenait une
station de baguage ainsi que des relevés visuels. Les résultats obtenus ont dépassé les attentes. L’OOT a pu confirmer que la
Volunteers
gently extracting
birds from the
mist nets at the
Tadoussac Bird
Observatory
(OOT) for
banding
3
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
migration printanière des passereaux dans la région de Tadoussac s’effectuait du nord-est vers le sud-ouest et pouvait parfois être
caractérisée par des mouvements massifs de courte durée (de 4 à 5 heures) de plus d’une trentaine d’espèces. À l’échelle du
Québec, ce phénomène spectaculaire n’a été observé que sur la rive nord du Saint-Laurent. Des déplacements matinaux
(morning flight) de migrateurs nocturnes similaires à ceux observés à Tadoussac ont cependant été notés à plusieurs endroits en
Amérique du Nord, principalement le long des côtes de l’Atlantique et dans certaines zones montagneuses des Appalaches.
En termes quantitatifs, le projet-pilote de mai 2009 a permis de dénombrer 21 048 passereaux, dont 10 883 Parulines à
croupion jaune, 1 086 Parulines à tête cendrée, 401 Parulines à joues grises et 305 Parulines tigrées! La journée du 14 mai a été
marquée par le plus important mouvement matinal enregistré avec le passage de 5 412 parulines de 10 espèces différentes! Plus
que satisfaite de ces résultats, l’équipe de l’OOT a alors décidé d’entreprendre en 2010 un projet de plus grande envergure,
s’étalant sur une durée d’un mois (4 mai au 5 juin), afin de mieux couvrir la migration de l’ensemble des passereaux néotropicaux
(migrateurs hâtifs et tardifs). Les objectifs poursuivis étaient d’analyser la possibilité de mettre en œuvre un programme de suivi
printanier permanent aux dunes de Tadoussac, et de mieux comprendre la ou les causes des déplacements matinaux provenant
du nord-ouest. Sur ce dernier point, l’équipe de l’OOT demeurait perplexe. En effet, il était très surprenant de constater que les
migrateurs arrivaient du nord-est (de la Côte-Nord) plutôt que du sud-ouest (de Charlevoix). L’OOT décidait de tenter de
résoudre cette intrigue durant le printemps 2010.
Pour ce faire, l’Observatoire a eu la chance de pouvoir compter sur le support financier de quelques partenaires d’importance
dont Protection des oiseaux du Québec. Fort de cet appui, tout était mis en place pour un mois de mai bien particulier : recenseur
de qualité, station de baguage et même un radar maritime mobile qui permettait de suivre les migrations nocturnes. Tout était en
place, sauf … les oiseaux! Ceux-ci ont cruellement manqué à l’appel! Ainsi, en un mois de recensement, seuls 9 110 passereaux
ont été recensés, soit moins de la moitié de ceux comptabilisés en seulement 12 jours l’année précédente.
Que s’est-il passé au printemps 2010?
La réponse est simple : les conditions favorables aux déplacements matinaux ont été pratiquement absentes au mois de mai
dernier. En analysant les données météorologiques, l’OOT a découvert que les migrateurs nocturnes semblaient profiter du
passage d’un front froid (zone de précipitations) au-dessus de l’Abitibi et du Lac-Saint-Jean pendant la nuit pour migrer vers le
nord-est (en profitant des vents favorables du sud-ouest). Ces mêmes migrateurs corrigeraient ensuite leur trajectoire de migration
en volant à basse altitude vers le sud-ouest au lever du soleil. Une telle correction pourrait, entre autres, s’expliquer par le
changement de direction des vents survenant suite au passage d’un front froid au nord de Tadoussac : les forts vents de faible
altitude passant du sud-ouest au nord-est. En somme, les oiseaux provenant du sud du Québec, transportés par des vents
favorables pouvant parfois atteindre 100 km/h, traverseraient le Saint-Laurent à l’est de Tadoussac et corrigeraient ensuite leur
trajectoire de migration, profitant du changement de direction des vents.
Or le mois de mai 2010 a été marqué par le beau temps et des vents du sud, sud-ouest presque constants. Les images radar
ont indiqué que les oiseaux filaient directement vers leurs aires de reproduction durant la nuit, sans avoir besoin d’effectuer une
quelconque correction migratoire. En fait, des déplacements matinaux notables n’ont été observés qu’à seulement deux occasions,
d’où le nombre limité d’oiseaux comptabilisés. Le printemps 2010 aura donc permis de mieux comprendre les migrations des
passereaux néotropicaux sur la Côte-Nord, tout en constatant que le potentiel pour effectuer un suivi diurne de migrateurs
nocturnes reste limité. Il n’en demeure pas moins qu’en dépit de leur rareté, les migrations matinales massives représentent un
phénomène spectaculaire tout simplement éblouissant!
Pascal Côté est directeur de l'Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac (O.O.T.) depuis 2009. Auparavant il a été respectivement
stagiaire au baguage et coordonnateur des programmes de ce même observatoire. Avant de migrer vers la Côte-Nord, Pascal a
grandi dans la région de Montréal, où il a commencé à s'intéresser aux oiseaux en bas âge. Il a complété un baccalauréat en
biologie et une maîtrise en écologie forestière à l'UQAM.
Editor’s note : You can view Radio-Canada’s documentary on this story at : http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/
decouverte/2010-2011/Reportage.asp?idDoc=124086
4
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Bird Protection Quebec is the operational
name of The Province of
Quebec Society for the
Protection of Birds. Established January 4, 1917.
Bird Protection Quebec/
PQSPB is a registered charity.
All donations are tax
deductible.
Reminders: Mark your calendars!
Charity Registration # 11925 2161 RR0001.
Ongoing FeederWatch programs: (November 13 to April 8)
To participate in the Feederwatch programme of Les amis de la
Montagne on Mount Royal
Call 514-843-8240 ext. 242 or e-mail [email protected]
Principal Officers
President - Jeff Harrison
Vice-Presidents - Richard Gregson &
Marie-Hélène Gauthier
Treasurer - Jean Harwood Gregson
Secretary - Jean Bacon
Newsletter Contacts
Newsletter Editor: Jane Cormack
[email protected]
Christmas Bird Counts
Montreal December 18th: Contact Jeff Harrison by phone at:
514-486-4943 or e-mail at [email protected]
Hudson January 2nd (Note the change of date). Contact Alison
Bentley at: 450-458-4428
BPQ’s 2011 Winter Lecture Series
Winter need not mean the “doldrums” for birders - in fact, it is the
perfect time to prepare yourself for spring. The BPQ Membership
Services Committee is very pleased to announce that (once again) we
have been able to call upon the services of a terrific slate of experts to
help you improve your birding skills and knowledge. Come to all or
some of our winter bird course lectures, to be held on alternate
Wednesdays in February and March 2011. Mark these dates in your
agenda!
February 9
“Taking a look at how we look at birds”
A workshop on optics and other birding equipment with Alain Goulet
Layout: Richard Gregson
Birdviews: Pierre Bannon
[email protected]
514-766-8767 after 7:00 PM
February 23
“The ABC’s of birdwatching”
Birding basics, with ID tips more experienced
birders can use too - with Joël Coutu
Contact BPQ:
[email protected]
Bird Protection Quebec
P.O. Box 43, Station B
Montreal QC H3B 3J5
Tel: 514-637-2141
Website and Membership
www.birdprotectionquebec.org
Email discussion group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Songsparrow
The Song Sparrow ISSN 1710-3371
Legal Deposit: National Library and Archives
of Canada - Publication Mail No. 40044323
5
March 9
“You are what you eat!”
The incredible role of food in the lives of birds with Barbara Frei
March 23
“Seeing the forest for the trees”
A workshop on birdfinding by habitat - with Betsy
McFarlane
Lectures are at Knox Crescent Kensington & First Presbyterian
Church, 6225 Godfrey Avenue, NDG.
Time: 7:30 pm
Cost: $15 per lecture for BPQ members and $20 for non-members
Further details and registration forms will be available at monthly
meetings, and on the website: www.birdprotectionquebec.org . For
more information please contact Averill Craig at 514-484-6575,
[email protected] , or Audrey Speck 514-487-4032,
[email protected] ..
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Nocturnal Owl Migration Monitoring
by Gay Gruner and Simon Duval
The goal of MBO’s Nocturnal Owl Migration Monitoring Program is to document the timing and volume of migration of
Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO). To this end, MBO captures and bands Northern Saw-whet Owls in the fall. This year
McGill Bird Observatory (MBO) began owl monitoring on September 26th and continued to November 14th with banding
occurring on 35 evenings.
Starting at dusk, either Kristen Keyes or Simon Duval (banders-in-charge), Bob Barnhurst (owl bander-in-training) and a
crew of volunteers arrive at MBO to settle in for a minimum of four hours of owl monitoring. Donning their headlamps, they
trek to a stand of conifers to raise the nets and set the audio lure. MBO uses two 30-mm and five 60-mm mesh nets placed in a
rough rectangle around and through a grove of conifers. The audio lure is placed in the middle of the rectangle and the call of
the NSWO plays non-stop until the nets are closed.
When an owl is captured, it is extracted from the net and carried back to the banding station in a cloth bird bag. Each owl is
examined for overall health and any interesting features; standard data including age, sex, unflattened wing chord, weight, fat
score, date and time are also recorded. A UV light is sometimes used to assess the age of the feathers by holding it over the open
wing; new feathers contain porphyrin pigments and tend to fluoresce pink under UV light. (For information on ageing strategies
of NSWOs, please visit http://www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/id/nswo.html .) Once these measurements are recorded, the
owl is taken outside, held for ten minutes so that its eyes readjust to the nighttime darkness and then released.
The 2010 season has been our most successful to date, with a total of 122 NSWOs banded and two Eastern Screech-Owls
(see Table 1). Whether this reflects a greater movement of NSWOs or our increased effort we cannot say, but suspect it is a
combination of both factors. Thanks to a grant from Bird Protection Quebec we were able to operate more nights than in
previous years.
Table 1. Overview of the results of the owl migration monitoring programs at MBO since 2004.
NSWO Monitoring Program
2004
2005
2007
2009
2010
Total
# birds (and species) banded
18 (2)
17 (1)
15 (1)
78 (2)
124 (2)
252 (2)
# birds (and species) repeat
-
-
-
5 (1)
5 (1)
10 (1)
# birds (and species) foreign
1 (1)
-
-
2 (1)
2 (1)
5 (1)
# net hours
208.8
224.7
293.6
698.0
1323.6
2748.7
8.6
7.6
5.1
11.2
9.4
9.1
# birds banded / 100 net hours
There was a good array of age and sex combinations (see Table 2).
Table 2. Age and Sex of Northern Saw-whet Owls caught at MBO in 2010.
Hatch year
After hatch
year
Second year
After second
year
After third year
Female
55
2
21
6
1
Male
9
1
1
-
-
Unknown
22
1
4
-
-
We had two foreign recaptures: one from Massachusetts banded in 2009; and one from northern Ontario that was banded
this year. Interestingly, on October 31st we recaptured an owl that we had banded on October 2nd. Where it spent its days
remains a mystery despite huge efforts by MBO staff and volunteers to locate a Saw-whet during the day. Also of note - one of
the Saw-whets we banded in the 2009 season was recaptured this year in Pennsylvania on October 20th.
Long-eared Owls were heard most evenings. One young Long-eared caused consternation among the banders by making a
whistle-call like a Black-bellied Plover. Another Long-eared gave a bark-like call. Rising to these ID challenges, Marcel Gahbauer
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
walked the trail on both east and west sides of Stoneycroft Pond in near pitch-black conditions until he located the favoured
perches of the Long-eared Owls and identified the two calls as long-ears.
Net-rounds are never taken for granted – on September 29th, Kristen Keyes banded an Eastern Screech-Owl, on November
1st at 11:30 PM (!) Simon Duval banded a Dark-eyed Junco; and on our final night of banding, Simon banded a very large
(217.5g) Eastern Screech-Owl - a very exciting end to a successful season.
Gay Gruner is the Director of the McGill Bird Observatory (MBO) after having begun volunteering at the station in 2004 (the
year of its inception). When she's not out running the MBO or birding with friends, she's in the field with BPQ's Education
Committee teaching children to identify and appreciate birds and critters alike. She is also Chair of the BPQ Communications
Committee and a long-standing member of the Board.
Simon Duval has overseen the MBO Owl Migration Monitoring Program for the last two years. He is Coordinator of the MBO
and passionate about all birds, but has a particular love for raptors. In 2010 Simon led a program to band Peregrine Falcons in
the Montreal area. This coming winter he will be conducting owl and hawk banding in various sectors of the Montreal region.
Eastern Screech
Owl at the
MBO
photo:
Simon Duval
New Nature Reserve north of Montreal
We are proud to announce that with the aid of a significant donation from BPQ and contributions from the Quebec and Federal
governments, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has secured an extensive and bird-filled area in the hills between Piedmont and
Prévost. This wonderful area will be known as the Alfred Kelly Nature Reserve in honour of a great benefactor of our charity
who lived in the area.
Bird Protection Quebec is a major partner in the development of this fabulous reserve and will be working closely with the NCC
and a local conservation group (Comité régional pour la protection des falaises) in coming years to develop and look after the
reserve. It is hoped that in the spring of 2011 we will be organizing an extensive field trip into the hills and hope that as many
BPQ people as possible will be able to come and enjoy the birds that live there.
Some material produced by the NCC explaining this purchase can be downloaded from
http://www.pqspb.org/downloads/sanctuaries/CNC_panneau_V4.pdf
More information about this will be presented in the next edition of The Song Sparrow.
7
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Electronic Field Notes – Automate your
Sightings and Locate that Bird-Holding Tree
by LBJ
A new “app” is now available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and
iPad that could just transform your note-taking in the field. Available
under the name of “Birdwatcher’s Diary” for the ridiculously low price
of $9.99, it enables you to ditch that scruffy notebook and pencil once
and for all. Nothing wrong with notebook and pencil but this app goes
beyond traditional methods. It automatically records the GPS
coordinates for every bird seen and then creates maps (using
GoogleEarth) that show not just that you found Robins on Île Bizard
but which tree they were in … extremely useful for telling others where
those rarities were lurking.
It is preconfigured with U.S., U.K. and Mexican bird lists but can
be easily loaded with any custom list. A simple tap marks the bird as
seen; if you are counting birds, further taps increment the count;
sightings can be marked as visual or "heard only". Additional features
include a built-in, user-configurable "phrase list" ― makes adding
notes to your sightings ("Breeding plumage", "Juvenile", etc.) a simple
matter of tapping and not typing ― you can recall earlier sightings, or
merge them into "life lists", restricted (if you choose) by date, country,
state, county, birding location, or any word or phrase in either your trip
notes or sighting notes and lastly you are able to output data via ftp,
email, clipboard, or iTunes file sharing using standard fixed formats
(eBird, Google Maps) or totally custom formats including any
information in any order.
At the end of the day you can archive your sightings on your
device, upload them directly to eBird or enter them into the listings
software you usually use on your home computer.
I’ve been experimenting with this nifty piece of software on your behalf, finding it nice, albeit probably not at all essential, to
be able to record sightings with a tap of the finger instead of a damp scrawl, but rapidly realizing that the killer feature is the
mapping of the individual tree in which the Great Auk was sitting that makes the Birdwatcher’s Diary so desirable. If you have an
iPhone or iPod anyway this is so cheap that it is worth getting for this feature alone. Nothing in this birding world is perfect, but
this is very, very useful addition to our armamentarium.
LBJ is rather an elusive character. According to inside sources "a shy and retiring type" habitually seen in drab plumage and
shady habitat, prepared to admit only to being birder of a certain (difficult to ascertain) age who is uncomfortable in crowds and
has a proclivity for hiding in bushes with a large 'scope ready to pounce on any passing lifer that happens his (or is it her) way.
More could be revealed in another issue. Stay tuned.
2011 Parking Permit for Montreal Nature Parks
If you go birding in Montreal’s network of nature parks, you probably know that the daily parking rate is currently $7. An
annual parking permit allows unlimited parking in any of the following parks: Anse-à-l’Orme, Cap-Saint-Jacques, Bois-de-l’ÎleBizard, Bois-de-Liesse, Île-de-la-Visitation, and Pointe-aux-Prairies. The price is $40 for the first vehicle, $30 for each additional
vehicle registered at the same address. The 2011 permit is available now, so people buying in December will benefit. For more
information contact: Philippe Murphy, Préposé à la perception des revenus, Ville de Montréal, Gestion des grand parcs, 801 rue
Brennan - pavillon Duke, Bureau 4146, Montréal, QC, H3C 0G4. To pay by credit card, telephone him at: 514-280-6766.
8
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
BIRDVIEWS
A summary of interesting bird sightings in Montréal and around the province
By Pierre Bannon
August-mid-November 2010
Pink-footed Goose: a bird photographed at Saint-François-Xavier-de-Brompton 18 Oct (E & F. Langlois et al.). Mute
Swan: singles at Île Saint-Eugène, Pointe-du-Lac 1-25 Aug (G. Dussault, K-A Do) and at Boucherville 2-7 Aug (R. Calderoni,
m.ob.). Black Swan: 2 birds at Gore 28 Aug-5 Sept (J. Anderson, C. Lapointe). Trumpeter Swan: one continued in La
Mauricie National Park until at least 24 Oct (S. Bouchard et al.). A pair successfully nested at Joutel, Abitibi, a first provincial
breeding record. The ads were first seen 22 Apr and two dark young were photographed accompanying the ads 14 Sept (JF.
Doyon). Tundra Swan: one at Mandeville 18 Oct (R. Piché, G. Cyr). Canvasback: only one bird reported, at Chambly 18
Oct-3 Nov (R. Chartier, m.ob.). Harlequin Duck: single inland birds were at Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka 16 Oct (R. Fortin), at
Sainte-Catherine 17 Oct (R. Belhumeur) and at Philipsburg 4 Nov (N. Bourdon). Pacific Loon: one at Île aux Basques 9-16
Oct (I. Lechasseur, O. Barden).
Northern Gannet: 2 flying over Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 14 Nov (B. Barnhurst). American White Pelican: one was at
Lac Boivin, Granby, for over 2 months, 10 Sept-15 Nov, establishing a record late date (B. Hamel, m.ob.). Great Egret: some
post-breeding gatherings involved 30 at Deschênes 21 Aug (R. Dubois et al.), 22 at Saint-Barthélemy 7 Sept (L. Jacques) and 25
at Longueuil 7 Sept (Y. Gauthier). Snowy Egret: one at Maple Grove 12 Aug (R. Belhumeur) and 6 Sept (D-J. Léandri).
Cattle Egret: an important post-breeding dispersal took place between 19 Oct and 15 Nov with a total of 21 birds in 15
localities. Turkey Vulture: 89 at Mont-Laurier 27 Aug (R. Lebrun). Broad-winged Hawk: 2413 indiv (1532 in one hour)
at the Montreal west end hawkwatch 10 Sept was considered one of the highest one-day totals of recent times (B. Barnhurst,
M. McIntosh). Swainson’s Hawk: one at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 31 Oct (B. Barnhurst). Purple Gallinule: a weakening
bird found at Fermont in late Oct finally died 1 Nov (B. Jolicoeur, ph).
Marbled Godwit: singles at Montmagny 7 Sept (Y. Bernier, C. Lamontagne) and at Port-Cartier 8 Sept (JF. Poulin, J.
Malouin). Buff-breasted Sandpiper: the best flight in years for this species. Peaks of 18 at Res. Baskatong 1 Sept (MA.
Montpetit, A. Crépeau), 5 at Lorraine 3 Sept (D-J. Léandri), 9 at Moisie 6 Sept (JF. Laporte) and 5 at Val d’Or 7 Sept (R.
Ladurantaye) were noteworthy. Ruff: one juv at Gatineau 6 Sept (R. Bisson, J. Savard).
Sabine’s Gull: regular on outings off the North Shore between 6 Aug and early Oct; elsewhere singles where reported inland
at Sainte-Pétronille, Victoriaville and Gatineau. Black-headed Gull: up to 2 birds were near Les Escoumins for most of fall
(m. ob.), an imm at Sainte-Pétronille 16 Oct (G. Cyr), and one at Saint-Vallier 31 Oct (L. Messely). Laughing Gull: 8 birds
were reported singly in the days following the passage of Hurricane Earl in the Maritimes. Franklin’s Gull: single ads found
at Trois-Rivières 28 Sept-5 Oct (S. Hamel) and in the Saguenay fjord 7 Oct (R. Pintiaux, C. St-Hilaire). Forster’s Tern:
singles off Tadoussac 22 Sept (R. Pintiaux), at Gatineau 22 Sept (R. Dubois), off Trois-Pistoles 3 Oct (F. & R. Dion) and at Les
Bergeronnes 5 Oct (R. Pintiaux).
White-winged Dove: singles at Les Bergeronnes 3-4 Aug (H. Johansen) and at Sainte-Catherine 16 Oct-16 Nov (E.
Robichaud, É. Lepage). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 6 birds reported. Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 2 hatch-year male
Archilochus hummingbirds were photographed at record late dates. These birds were identified as Red-throated by hummingbird
expert, Nancy Newfield. The first was at Magog 23-24 Oct (A. Arbour), the second was at Saint-Lazare 6-14 Nov (L.
Rondeau). Anna’s Hummingbird: an ad male already present since late Oct at Val-d’Espoir was identified and seen by
many 7-15 Nov (L. Dallaire, P. Poulin et al., ph. A. Couture). Red-headed Woodpecker: one at Sainte-Foy 1 Sept (R. A.
Jones). Red-bellied Woodpecker: on the basis of photographs of a juvenile taken at Châteauguay 29 Aug, it appears that
the species has nested there for the third time since 2006 (L. Lemay, M. Amyot).
Western Kingbird: one at Saint-Joachim, near Cap Tourmente 23 Sept (P. Côté, M. Girard). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher:
one at Cap-des-Rosiers 19-25 Oct (M. Lincourt, S. Allard, ph.). Fork-tailed Flycatcher: singles at Étang-du-Nord,
Magdalen Is, 22 Aug (G. Forest, B. Vigneault, fide G. Éthier) and at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 30 Oct (B. Barnhurst, M.
9
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
McIntosh). Gray Jay: a small flight took place in extreme s. Québec where about a dozen birds were reported in Oct. Purple
Martin: one near Ville-Marie 27 Aug apparently provided a first for the Témiscamingue region (J. Fréchette). Tree Swallow:
one late bird still at Havre Saint-Pierre 21 Oct (F. Gallant). Cliff Swallow: surprisingly, about 30 birds were seen in the
Tadoussac area throughout Oct, involving a one-day count of 11 on 18 Oct (S. Belleau) and a very late bird 2 Nov (A. Anctil, S.
Denault). Cave Swallow: one at Saint-Vallier 28-30 Oct (O. Barden, JP. Ouellet, M. Lafleur), 2 at Ville-Marie 29 Oct (J.
Fréchette) and one at Tadoussac 1 Nov (H. Johansen et al.). Carolina Wren: at least 2 dozens indiv reported during the period.
Northern Wheatear: singles at Cap-Tourmente 6 Sept (P. Lane), Sept-Îles 11-12 Sept (F. Gallant et al.) and at Moisie 24 Oct
(JF. Laporte). Townsend’s Solitaire: singles at Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka 13-17 Oct (ph. D. Collins, m.ob.), at Terrebonne 18
Oct (C. Bélanger) and at Tadoussac 31 Oct (R. Pintiaux). White Wagtail: a very good description was obtained for a bird in
winter plumage seen at Île aux Coudres 12 Oct (C. & R. Fortin, fide C. Gagnon). A second provincial record.
Yellow-throated Warbler: singles at Jonquières 4 Oct-14 Nov (ph. G. Allard), Pabos 12-15 Nov (J. Blais) and Longueuil 14-16
Nov (D. Ouellette). Prairie Warbler: a first year male at Cap Tourmente 30 Aug (S. Rioux, O. Barden). Hooded Warbler: a
male at Cap Tourmente 27-30 Aug (F. & R. Dion) followed by a female at the same place 16 Sept (R. Lepage). Summer
Tanager: singles were photographed at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 8 Sept (M. Gauthier, LE. Brochu-Maillé), at Normandin 30 Oct
(C. Bellemare et al.) and at Dorion 8-11 Nov (L. Castonguay, fide A. Hogues).
Spotted Towhee: one was accompanying an Eastern Towhee at Ïle aux Basques 11 Oct (B. Gariépy). Lark Sparrow: singles
at Sept-Îles 11 Oct (JF. Laporte) and Québec City 10-11 Nov (fide G. Cyr). Grasshopper Sparrow: one at I. Charron 26 Sept
represented a very rare fall sighting (ph. Y. Gauthier). Northern Cardinal: 3 birds were noticed in the Tadoussac area in early
Nov (S. Denault, S. Belleau). Blue Grosbeak: a juv at Percé 24-26 Oct (F. de Caen et al., ph. A. Couture) followed by an ad
male at Ville-Marie 29 Oct (J. Fréchette). Yellow-headed Blackbird: the best flight in several years with singles at Dundee 24
Aug (J. Bacon, J. De Marre) and at Palmarolle 27 Aug (S. Gagnon), 2 at Montmagny 16-17 Sept (G. Cyr et al.) and 5 at SaintTimothée 17 Sept (S. Deshaie). Orchard Oriole: a female was at Tadoussac 17 Oct (ph. S. Denault), a third record for the
North Shore and a fifth provincial fall record.
Please report your interesting bird observations to: Pierre Bannon, 1517 Leprohon, Montréal, Qc H4E 1P1.
Tel: 514-766-8767 after 7:00 p.m. or by E-mail at [email protected]
PARLONS D’OISEAUX
Un bilan des observations intéressantes à Montréal et à travers la province
par Pierre Bannon
Août-mi-novembre 2010
Oie à bec court: un oiseau photographié à Saint-François-Xavier-de-Brompton 18 oct (E & F. Langlois et al.). Cygne
tuberculé: des oiseaux à l’île Saint-Eugène, Pointe-du-Lac 1-25 août (G. Dussault, K-A Do) et à Boucherville 2-7 août (R.
Calderoni, pl.ob.). Cygne noir: 2 oiseaux à Gore 28 août-5 sept (J. Anderson, C. Lapointe). Cygne trompette: un encore
présent au Parc National de la Mauricie au moins jusqu’au 24 oct (S. Bouchard et al.). Un couple a niché avec succès à Joutel,
Abitibi, une première nidification au Québec. Les adultes furent d’abord apercus le 22 avr et 2 jeunes oiseaux furent photographiés
avec les ad le 14 sept (JF. Doyon). Cygne siffleur: un à Mandeville 18 oct (R. Piché, G. Cyr). Fuligule à dos blanc: un seul
oiseau signalé, à Chambly 18 oct-3 nov (R. Chartier, pl.ob.). Arlequin plongeur: des oiseaux furent signalés dans le sud du
Québec à Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka 16 oct (R. Fortin), à Sainte-Catherine 17 oct (R. Belhumeur) et à Philipsburg 4 nov (N.
Bourdon). Plongeon du Pacifique: un à l’île aux Basques 9-16 oct (I. Lechasseur, O. Barden).
Fou de Bassin: 2 en vol à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 14 nov (B. Barnhurst). Pélican d’Amérique: un au Lac Boivin, Granby,
pour plus de 2 mois, 10 sept-15 nov, une nouvelle date record (B. Hamel, pl.ob.). Grande Aigrette: 30 à Deschênes 21 août (R.
Dubois et al.), 22 à Saint-Barthélemy 7 sept (L. Jacques), et 25 à Longueuil 7 sept (Y. Gauthier) représentaient des regroupements
post-nuptiaux importants. Aigrette neigeuse: une à Maple Grove 12 août (R. Belhumeur) et 6 sept (D-J. Léandri). Héron
garde-boeufs: une importante dispersion post-nuptiale s’est produite entre le 19 oct et le 15 nov avec un total de 21 indiv dans
15 localités. Urubu à tête rouge: 89 à Mont-Laurier 27 août (R. Lebrun). Petite Buse: 2413 indiv (1532 en une heure) à
l’ouest de Montréal 10 sept représentaient l’un des décomptes les plus importants des dernières années pour une seule journée (B.
10
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Barnhurst, M. McIntosh). Buse de Swainson: une à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 31 oct (B. Barnhurst). Talève violacée: un
oiseau recueilli affaibli à Fermont à la fin d’oct a été trouvé mort le 1er nov (B. Jolicoeur, ph).
Barge marbrée: des oiseaux à Montmagny 7 sept (Y. Bernier, C. Lamontagne) et à Port-Cartier 8 sept (JF. Poulin, J. Malouin).
Bécasseau roussâtre: les meilleurs décomptes depuis des années pour cette espèce. Des maxima de 18 au Rés. Baskatong 1st
sept (MA. Montpetit, A. Crépeau), 5 à Lorraine 3 sept (D-J. Léandri), 9 à Moisie 6 sept (JF. Laporte) et 5 à Val d’Or 7 sept (R.
Ladurantaye) étaient dignes de mention. Combattant varié: un juv à Gatineau 6 sept (R. Bisson, J. Savard).
Mouette de Sabine: vue régulièrement au large sur la Côte Nord entre le 6 août et le début d’oct; plus au sud, des oiseaux
signalés à Sainte-Pétronille, Victoriaville et Gatineau. Mouette rieuse: jusqu’à 2 oiseaux tout l’automne près des Escoumins (pl.
ob.), un imm à Sainte-Pétronille 16 oct (G. Cyr), et une à Saint-Vallier 31 oct (L. Messely). Mouette atricille: 8 oiseaux signalés
dans les jours suivant le passage de l’ouragan Earl dans les Maritimes. Mouette de Franklin: des ad trouvés à Trois-Rivières 28
sept-5 oct (S. Hamel) et dans le fjord du Saguenay 7 oct (R. Pintiaux, C. St-Hilaire). Sterne de Forster: des oiseaux à
Tadoussac 22 sept (R. Pintiaux), à Gatineau 22 sept (R. Dubois), au large de Trois-Pistoles 3 oct (F. & R. Dion), et à Les
Bergeronnes 5 oct (R. Pintiaux).
Tourterelle à ailes blanches: des oiseaux à Les Bergeronnes 3-4 août (H. Johansen) et à Sainte-Catherine 16 oct-16 nov (E.
Robichaud, É. Lepage). Coulicou à bec jaune: 6 oiseaux signalés. Colibri à gorge rubis: 2 jeunes mâles du genre Archilochus
photographiés à des dates records. Ces oiseaux furent identifiés comme étant des Colibris à gorge rubis par la spécialiste, Nancy
Newfield. Le premier était à Magog 23-24 oct (A. Arbour), le second àt Saint-Lazare 6-14 nov (L. Rondeau). Colibri d’Anna:
un mâle ad présent depuis la fin d’oct fut identifié et revu à Val-d’Espoir 7-15 nov (L. Dallaire, P. Poulin et al., ph. A. Couture).
Pic à tête rouge: un à Sainte-Foy 1 sept (R. A. Jones). Pic à ventre roux: un juv photographié à Châteauguay 29 août
confirme la nidification dans cette localité pour la 3ième fois depuis 2006 (L. Lemay, M. Amyot).
Tyran de l’Ouest: un à Saint-Joachim, près de Cap Tourmente 23 sept (P. Côté, M. Girard). Tyran à longue queue: un à
Cap-des-Rosiers 19-25 oct (M. Lincourt, S. Allard, ph.). Tyran des savanes: des oiseaux à Étang-du-Nord, IDLM, 22 août (G.
Forest, B. Vigneault, fide G. Éthier) et à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 30 oct (B. Barnhurst, M. McIntosh). Mésangeai du Canada:
une douzaine d’oiseaux sont apparus dans le sud de la province en oct. Hirondelle noire: une près de Ville-Marie 27 août
fournissait une première pour la région du Témiscamingue (J. Fréchette). Hirondelle bicolore: une très tardive à Havre SaintPierre 21 oct (F. Gallant). Hirondelle à front blanc: étonnamment, une trentaine d’oiseaux dénombrés dans la région de
Tadoussac en oct, dont 11 indiv le 18 oct (S. Belleau), et un oiseau très tardif le 2 nov (A. Anctil, S. Denault). Hirondelle à
front brun: une à Saint-Vallier 28-30 oct (O. Barden, JP. Ouellet, M. Lafleur), 2 à Ville-Marie 29 oct (J. Fréchette), et une à
Tadoussac 1st nov (H. Johansen et al.). Troglodyte de Caroline: au moins 2 douzaines signalées durant la période. Traquet
motteux: des oiseaux à Cap-Tourmente 6 sept (P. Lane), Sept-Îles 11-12 sept (F. Gallant et al.), et à Moisie 24 oct (JF. Laporte).
Solitaire de Townsend: des oiseaux à Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka 13-17 oct (ph. D. Collins, m.ob.), à Terrebonne 18 oct (C.
Bélanger) et à Tadoussac 31 oct (R. Pintiaux). Bergeronnette grise: une excellente description d’un oiseau en plumage d’hiver
a été obtenue pour l’île aux Coudres 12 oct (C. & R. Fortin, fide C. Gagnon). Une deuxième mention provinciale.
Paruline à gorge jaune: des oiseaux à Jonquières 4 oct-14 nov (ph. G. Allard), Pabos 12-15 nov (J. Blais), et Longueuil 14-16
nov (D. Ouellette). Paruline des prés: un mâle de 1er cycle à Cap Tourmente 30 août (S. Rioux, O. Barden). Paruline à
capuchon: un mâle à Cap Tourmente 27-30 août (F. & R. Dion) suivi d’une femelle au même endroit 16 sept (R. Lepage).
Piranga vermillon: des oiseaux photographiés à Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 8 sept (M. Gauthier, LE. Brochu-Maillé), à
Normandin 30 oct (C. Bellemare et al.), ainsi qu’à Dorion 8-11 nov (L. Castonguay, fide A. Hogues).
Tohi tacheté: un accompagnant un Tohi à flancs roux à l’île aux Basques 11 oct (B. Gariépy). Bruant à joues marron: des
oiseaux à Sept-Îles 11 oct (JF. Laporte) et à Québec 10-11 nov (fide G. Cyr). Bruant sauterelle: un à l’île Charron 26 sept, une
rare mention d’automne (ph. Y. Gauthier). Cardinal rouge: 3 oiseaux à Tadoussac au début de nov, inusité (S. Denault, S.
Belleau). Guiraca bleu: un juv à Percé 24-26 oct (F. de Caen et al., ph. A. Couture) suivi d’un mâle ad à Ville-Marie 29 oct (J.
Fréchette). Carouge à tête jaune: présences remarquées avec des oiseaux à Dundee 24 août (J. Bacon, J. De Marre) et
Palmarolle 27 août (S. Gagnon), 2 à Montmagny 16-17 sept (G. Cyr et al.) et 5 à Saint-Timothée 17 sept (S. Deshaie). Oriole
des vergers: une femelle à Tadoussac 17 oct (ph. S. Denault), une 3ième mention pour la Côte Nord et une 5ième mention
d’automne pour la province.
Please report your interesting bird observations to: Pierre Bannon, 1517 Leprohon, Montréal, Qc H4E 1P1.
Tel: 514-766-8767 after 7:00 p.m. or by E-mail at [email protected]
11
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Protecting the Bicknell’s Thrush
Earlier this fall, BPQ sent a letter in support of an initiative by RésEAU des Montagnes and Nature Québec to set up a protected
area within Parc régional Massif du Sud. The park, located in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Québec, provides prime
habitat for a number of boreal bird species. In particular, its highest peaks on Mont du Midi and Mont Magloire support a
significant population of Bicknell’s Thrush, a bird considered vulnerable with a recommendation to change its status to
threatened. Many BPQ members signed a petition in support of this initiative . The petition is now available on line. For those
who haven’t already signed, a link is provided in the following article.
Interest in this Bicknell’s Thrush and its conservation were initiated in 1993 at the time when Dr Henri Ouellet, published a study
in the Wilson Bulletin: http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v105n04/p0545-p0572.pdf Henri Ouellet was a curator at the
National Museum of Canada, and before that at McGill’s Redpath Museum. Throughout his career, he supported many
conservation and birding organizations, was a long-standing BPQ member and served on its Board of Directors from 1968-70. In
this study, he recommended that the Bicknell’s Thrush be considered a separate species. The bird was discovered in 1881 by
Eugene P. Bicknell, but until recently it was considered a sub-species of the Gray-cheeked Thrush.
Many BPQ members remember Dr. Oeullet’s talk on the Bicknell’s Thrush on December 1st 1997. It was shortly after this, the
AOU (American Ornithologist Union) added this new species to the Checklist of North American Birds.
Sadly Oeullet passed away in January 1999. However, interest in this bird and its conservation continues and are perhaps more
pressing than ever. This is evident in the following article recounting the discovery of the Bicknell’s Thrush in Massif du Sud.
Il était une fois le Massif du Sud….
par Mario Labrie
Pour vous situer, le Parc régional du Massif du Sud se retrouve au cœur du compté de Bellechasse à environ une heure de
Québec, de Saint-Georges de Beauce et de Montmagny, les trois villes les plus près du parc. Ce parc est, plus précisément, à
cheval sur les 4 municipalités de Saint-Philémon, Notre-Dame-Auxiliatrice-de-Buckland, Saint-Luc et Saint Magloire. Le parc
possède une superficie de 120 KM. carrés avec 22 sommets dont plusieurs dépassent les 700m, 800m et même les 900 mètres tel
le Mont du midi et le Mont Saint Magloire.
Il n’y a pas très longtemps encore, cet endroit était quasi inconnu des ornithologues. Quelques visites avaient permis de constater
la présence du Tétras du Canada qui y abonde et de quelques espèces communes en haute altitude telles que la Paruline rayée, le
Moucherolle à ventre jaune, le Pic à dos noir, etc.
Puis en juin 2005 après avoir longuement considéré les ressemblances du milieu avec entre autres les Monts-Gosford, il était
temps d’éclaircir une question qui tracassait souvent les gens dont moi le premier; Les Massifs du sud pouvaient-ils abriter la
Grive de Bicknell?
Après avoir entendues quelques cris de Grives de Bicknell lors de mes deux premières sorties sur les lieux au début juin, nous
avons finalement entendu chanter deux individus (n’étant pas familier avec l’espèce à l’époque j’avais besoin de plus que le simple
cri pour confirmer la présence de l’espèce)! Quelques autres espèces d’oiseaux s’ajouteront à la liste des oiseaux nicheurs pour le
Parc dont beaucoup d’oiseaux de la forêt boréale comme le Mésangeai du Canada, la Mésange à tête brune, le Durbec des sapins,
les deux espèces de bec-croisés, le Bruant fauve, le Quiscale rouilleux et j’en passe.
Été 2006; Le service canadien de la faune s’intéresse à ce nouveau site et les biologistes du SCF reviendront faire des inventaires
plus exhaustifs en 2007. Il s’avérera que le potentiel du Parc est finalement comparable aux principaux sites québécois abritant la
Grive de Bicknell. Par contre en 2006 une autre découverte vient assombrir le portrait du Parc. Onze mâts de mesure de vent sont
installés ici et là sur les sommets, là même où la Grive de Bicknell habite.
Une longue saga débute alors où chacun à sa façon tentera de faire comprendre aux élus de la région que le site est vraiment mal
choisi pour y installer un méga parc éolien qui comprendra 75 éoliennes dans sa phase 1, et on ne sait pas combien il y en aura si
la phase 2 vient qu’à suivre, ce qui ne serait pas surprenant du tout. Le gouvernement s’est donné un mandat; on doit semer
l’éolien à tout vent! Gare à ceux qui voudront s’y opposer.
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Des sorties sont organisées chaque année
par les clubs ornithologiques de la région.
Le site se fait tranquillement un nom.
D’autant plus qu’il y a déjà des
infrastructures présentes pour la
randonnée pédestre (120 km de sentiers),
en vélo ou voir à cheval. Le Parc régional
du Massif du Sud n’a donc rien à envier
aux autres parcs du Québec si ce n’est
qu’il ne possède aucun statut de
protection ou de conservation. Le groupe
FloraQuébec a effectué une sortie en juin
dernier et y a découvert une plante rare
de catégorie S1 (Pseudotaxiphyllum
distichaceum) et deux de catégorie S2
(dont Bazzania denudata). Le potentiel
botanique des lieux est donc encore tout à
découvrir…
À l’été 2009 germe, un peu tard
malheureusement, l’idée de faire des ces
120 km carrés une aire protégée, ce qui
contribuerait à tendre vers un
A Bicknell’s Thrush - whose habitat is potentially endangered in the Parc régional
pourcentage de territoire protégé qui
du Massif du Sud - is fitted with a geolocator tag in a CWS project, June 2009
serait légèrement plus près des objectifs
visés par notre gouvernement. Le
RésEAU des montagnes qui est à l’origine de l’idée et Nature Québec qui voient dans le Parc régional du Massif du Sud un
endroit exceptionnel à protéger, rallieront rapidement plusieurs organismes environnementaux dont le Club des ornithologues de
Québec et le Groupe des ornithologues de Beauce Etchemin dans un premier temps puis le R.Q.O. qui lui aussi emboitera le pas
rapidement.
Automne 2009
Surprise!! La Grive de Bicknell acquiert le statut d’espèce vulnérable sur le plan provincial. Le gouvernement s’étant engagé à
protéger les espèces vulnérables, sera-t-il à la hauteur de ses engagements??? Il s’avère aujourd’hui qu’à date, le potentiel pécunier
du projet surpasse de loin le sentiment de devoir tenir ces engagements. Bien des manigances et du chantage de toute sorte ont
contribué et continuent de faire en sorte que la plupart des élus et voir des organismes locaux ressent énormément de pression
qu’ils n’ont plus le choix. Ils doivent donc donner leur aval au projet éolien sinon…
C’est pourquoi je vous invite à signer la pétition que vous trouverez sur le site du résEAU des montagnes : .... https://
www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Petition-1099/index.html. Par ce geste vous contribuerez à faire valoir
l’importance de protéger des habitats fragiles et à maintenir ces lieux accessibles pour les générations futures.
Depuis son jeune âge, Mario Labrie s’intéresse aux animaux et la nature en général. Les activités de plein-air sont au cœur de sa
vie. En 1990, après avoir manqué le traversier il a fait une rencontre imprévue avec des gens du Club des ornithologues de
Québec (C.O.Q.) à l’Isle-Aux-Coudres. Cette rencontre s’avèrera pour lui une révélation car il changera dorénavant sa canne à
pêche et sa carabine pour des jumelles et une lunette de repérage.
Après quelques années à faire les excursions du C.O.Q., Mario commencera tranquillement à vouloir découvrir et parfaire ses
connaissances de sa région (Etchemin). C’est dans cet esprit qu’en 2005 il fréquentera les montagnes du Parc régional du Massif
du Sud en vue de peut-être y trouver la Grive de Bicknell. Ses recherches s’avèreront fructueuses. Bénévole au sein du Service
Canadien de la Faune depuis 2007 et membre des clubs d’ornithologie locaux le Club des ornithologues de Québec (C.O.Q.) et
Groupe des Ornithologues de Beauce-Etchemin (G.O.B.E.), Mario continuera à découvrir ces montagnes en les parcourant
régulièrement, tout en partageant, avec tous ceux qui le voudront bien cette passion à faire connaître le Parc Régional du Massif
du Sud ainsi que ses oiseaux.
13
BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
New Members
Warm greetings to new and returning members Clément Cardin, Piedmont; Ronald Chase, Montreal; Simon Duval, Le
Gardeur; Jean-Sébastien Guénette, Montréal; Irene Lepine, Montreal; Howard Kay, Montreal; Lucille Messier, St-Jean-surRichelieu; Jane Sorensen, Montreal; Robert Tittler, Montreal. We look forward to seeing you on our field trips and at our
monthly meetings. Good Birding!
Conserving Summit Woods
On November 6th, the newly-formed Summit Woods Advisory Committee (SWAC) together with Friends of the Summit
Woods led a walk around the Westmount summit to draw attention to the need to preserve this valuable urban forest. They
pointed out that much of the current deterioration could easily be reversed through proper management, citing the success of
Les amis de la Montagne in restoring areas of nearby Mount Royal park as an example.
An important stopover area for migrating birds, particularly warblers, these small woods ― known in the past as Westmount
Mountain and Summit Park ― have long attracted the attention of BPQ who began leading annual Warbler Walks there back
in the 1970s. BPQ has had an active interest in conserving the summit which dates back 93 years. In November 1917, 10
months after it was founded, PQSPB (as it was then known) managed to have Westmount Mountain, together with Mount
Royal and the two cemeteries declared sanctuaries.
More on the Summit Woods and the annual spring Warbler Walks will be presented in the April issue of The Song Sparrow.
Birds of Canada
An unexpected blizzard caused an unprecedented low turnout for our December meeting and so we are postponing the draw
for Lone Pine’s Birds of Canada to January, although our duck-specialist speaker, arrived on bike. Written by Tyler L. Hoar,
Ken de Smet, R.Wayne Campbell and George Kennedy, with contributions from Krista Kagume, this very attractive guide
celebrates the 451 birds commonly seen across Canada. It includes an appendix with 50 more birds that occur occasionally or
are of special note.
Each of the “regularly-occurring” birds is presented on a separate page with a full-colour illustration and high-quality
photograph. Descriptive paragraphs are well-written and provide interesting and useful information for all levels of birders.
However, as their intent is to “bring the bird to life” and thereby make it easier to remember, these descriptions are probably
most useful for the novice and intermediate birder. The usual identification keys, such as information on size, habitat, nesting,
feeding and similar species are presented at the bottom of each page, making them easy to find. Navigation is further facilitated
by a colour-coding system. Birds are organized into groups and each group is assigned a colour which is printed across the top
of the pages where the birds in the group are described.
Other nice-to-have features include a thumbnail sketch of each bird at the beginning of the guide which can serve a quick
reference in bird identification. A glossary of bird terms and a checklist for keeping a life list of Canadian birds are included.
The introduction provides useful information on birding in Canada with tips and techniques on where to find birds, including
lists of birding hotspots by province and territory, and how to find birds, such as by ear and by habitat.
I find this book more useful as a secondary reference. It is somewhat larger than other field guides. The illustrations and
photographs are often taken from the same point of view and don’t always provide enough detail for identification in the field.
Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Canadian birds. The descriptions are well-written and the
quality of the presentation and photographs make it a pleasure to look at.
Price: $39.95 - ISBN-13: 978-1-55105-603-6 ISBN-10: 1-55105-603-8 - Page Count: 528 - © 2010
The Ottawa Valley: Newly Protected Areas in Quebec
At the October meeting, starting off the fall season, Joël Bonin led us on a virtual exploration of Breckenridge, a 250 ha
property jointly owned by BPQ and Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC), and of several protected sites acquired by the NCC
along the Ottawa River. These include the Kettle Island swamp forest, the alvar open flat rock habitat in Aylmer, the Quyon
and Brystol shorelines, as well as the forest stands at Grand Marais.
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Joël Bonin is well-known to BPQ members. He served as a Director from 2007 to 2009 and continues to participate in various
activities including Christmas Bird Counts. Most recently, he and his son Rémi joined us once again for the annual Bluebird nest
box cleaning in Mont Royal Cemetery. Joël studied biology at University of Montreal and has an MA from McGill in
herpetology (salamanders). He has published numerous papers in reptile and amphibian research. He has been a Director of
Conservation at the NCC for the past three years, and has been active in developing property along the Ottawa River.
The land around the Ottawa River supports a number of rich and diverse habitats, shoreline, pasture, marsh, forest, rock cliff
and exposed limestone. It supports a flora not seen in Montreal, that includes the Red Cedar, White Oak and prairie grasses.
These are rare in Quebec. It is an important conservation area for Quebec, even though the land has been farmed.
Avian species include Red-headed Woodpeckers and many grassland birds, such as the Grasshopper Sparrow. The Loggerhead
Shrike Recovery program was undertaken at Breckenridge, with partners at McGill University, and representatives from the
Metro Toronto Zoo, Bird Studies Canada, the World Wildlife Fund in Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service. This bird once
thrived in Quebec but now there are believed to be none. With its pasture and hawthorn, this property provided an ideal habitat
for the Loggerhead Shrike, a bird nicknamed the Thorn Bird or Butcher Bird for its habit of impaling prey on a thorn or piece of
barbed wire before consuming it.
A regular network of volunteers tracked and monitored these birds which had some success. Unfortunately, the program was
cancelled in Quebec. However, Joël stressed the importance of volunteers in providing a sense and recovery of birds.
Joël’s passion for the diverse flora and fauna species in the area and for preserving the land was evident. Many in the audience
were inspired to get permission to make a physical trip to the area.
The Great Diversity of Birds in the Neotropics
Review by Sylvia Wees
Tropical bird keeper at the Biodôme de Montréal, Jean-Philippe Gagnon took us into the warm humid world of the stunning
birds of the Neotropics at the November meeting. He guided us through the many levelled ecological zones of the South and
Central American Neotropics and pointed us toward those likely to produce particular species.
Illustrating his talk with images of brilliant Neotropical birds, Jean-Philippe Gagnon told us how to distinguish them by their
feeding habits, many of these singularly specialized. A Snail Kite has a deeply curved bill that is uniquely adapted to scoop water
snails from their shells, so it hunts for them in a zone of muddy oxbow lakes. In contrast, glamorous Trogons are found in diverse
forested areas where they sit motionless, then suddenly flit butterfly-like to snatch one of their favorite small fruits from the end of
a loaded branch.
In the fruit-rich rainforest, frugivorous birds are numerous, often flocking around a tree loaded with their favorites. Among them,
parrots are singular in using their strong, hooked bills as a “third foot” to help them climb upon fruit trees, then crushing the nuts
and seeds to eat. The dissimilar spectacular and protruding bills of the Toucans are used to snip fruit from the branch; since
Toucans do not digest the seeds, they become useful dispersers of fruit seeds and nuts.
Tropical rainforests are rich in flowers and an excellent place to look for the prodigious diversity of nectar feeders, in particular
those perennial favorites, the hummingbirds. Their bills – straight, slightly or deeply curved – are uniquely adapted to whatever
flower whose nectar they seek. But some hummers, called “flower piercers,” skip the probing of the flower trumpet and go
straight through the flower wall to the nectar well.
Other species, such as tanagers, are “generalist” feeders, taking fruit, insects, and small lizards. Insectivorous birds are also
common, including flycatchers. But unless you happen upon a dramatic march of army ants, driving up a cloud of small insects
to be picked off by a hugely diverse flock of following birds, you are likely to miss the Ant-shrikes, Ant-wrens, and other ant birds
among them. Jean-Philippe also described some of the more bizarre mating dances and calls to be found, especially in the
Peruvian forests where he has led tours.
Sylvia Wees is a long-standing member of Bird Protection Quebec. She is the former Membership Secretary and continues to be
responsible for correspondence with Life Members. Her work on bird censuses includes leading the Bois de Liesse sector of the
Christmas Bird Count, and compiling the data for last spring’s Mt. Tremlant census. In recognition of her endeavors, BPQ
presented Sylvia with a 2009 long-term service award.
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Adopt-an-Owl
This year MBO launched an Adopt-an-owl
program. MBO will issue a personalized
8.5" x 11" certificate including your name
(or if you prefer to make the adoption a
gift, you can specify a different name), and
a photo of "your" owl, plus details such as
its age, sex, and weight, and the date and
time of its capture. Additionally, MBO will
provide any updates that we receive if the
owl is subsequently reported elsewhere.
If you would like to adopt an owl please
download a form from http://
www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/
adoptanowl.html .
Forthcoming Speakers:
Nocturnal Specialists: Owls
10 January 2011: Our presentation on ‘Nocturnal
Specialists: Owls’―a treat not only for the eyes but
for the ears as well―is sure to be unforgettable! Led
by one of the dynamic zoologists from the
Ecomuseum, this hour-long presentation promises to
reveal interesting facts and information through
pictures, props and, of course, up-close encounters
with the owls themselves! Participants will learn a
variety of things--from myths and misconceptions, to
the hunting strategies and many adaptations that
make these night-time dwellers such formidable
creatures. Be sure to bring a camera, for your chance
to see these charismatic and majestic creatures up
close, is a rare treat indeed!
The Ecomuseum Zoo’s Educational team consists of two experienced and dynamic zoologists: Hélène Caron (coordinator) and
Jennifer Cyr-Devine (educator). As zoologists, each have a Bachelors degree in ‘Applied Zoology’ from McGill University and an
avid love of animals and the environment. As part of the Education Program, and in accordance with the Ecomuseum’s mission,
Hélène and Jennifer have had unique opportunities in working with a variety of animal species (indigenous to the St. Lawrence
Valley System), as well as in bringing their knowledge and passion for animals into classrooms across Quebec.
Meadowbrook, an Example of the Need to Conserve and Rehabilitate Urban
Bird Habitat
Presented by Patrick Asch
7 February 2011: Since its foundation in 1917, Bird Protection Quebec has worked to protect birds. This unique mandate,
not tackled by the majority of Quebec’s birding groups, still continues 93 years later, whether through its own initiatives or the
support of projects led by other organizations. Among the latter, the BPQ board of directors pronounced itself with two letters
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
this year in regard to two threatened sites of interest to bird
populations. One letter was aimed at supporting the efforts by
the RésEAU des montagnes and Nature Québec to create a
protected area within the ‘Parc régional du Massif du Sud’, a
site considered for a wind turbine project in an area frequented
by many birds, including over 20% of the Quebec population
of Bicknell’s Thrush. The other was aimed at a more urban
site: Meadowbrook golf course, located in large part in
Montreal’s borough of Lachine. Why would BPQ support
efforts to protect Meadowbrook golf course? What are the
potentials of Meadowbrook for birds, bird habitat and birding
that make it important enough for Bird Protection Quebec to
recommend its protection? Patrick Asch, wildlife biologist,
director of Héritage Laurentien and a member of BPQ’S
board, has been volunteering with Friends of Meadowbrook to
help protect this site for three years now. Best known for his
naturalization efforts initiated at LaSalle’s ‘Parc des Rapides’,
Patrick is a dynamic animator and educator who has presented various well-appreciated lectures to BPQ over the past 15 years.
He will present a fascinating perspective of Meadowbrooks' potential importance to birds, birding and biodiversity. A unique
occasion to discover this little known gem!
Field trip reports:
04/09/10 – Parc Pointe aux Prairies, Montreal, QC – Leaders: Jean Demers & Clémence Soulard
Cool, mix of sun & cloud. 18 birders; 40 species
Bird of the Day: Merlin
Other Birds of Note: Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk,
Broad-winged Hawk, Eastern Wood-Pewee, House Wren, American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak
11/09/10 – Cooper Marsh, S. Lancaster, ON – Leader: Martin Bowman
10 to 20 degrees, sunny, no wind. 12 birders; 46 species
Bird of the Day: Osprey
Other Birds of Note: Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern
Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Common
Yellowthroat, Canada Warbler, Purple Finch
18/09/11 – Ile St-Bernard, Chateauguay, QC – Leader: Tom Long
Cool with clear conditions. 20 birders; 53 species
Bird of the Day: Tufted Titmouse
Other Birds of Note: Green-winged Teal, Broad-winged Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cedar
Waxwing, Black-throated Green Warbler
25/09/10 – Philipsburg, QC – Leader: Sandy Montgomery
Cloudy & windy. 15 birders; 58 species
Birds of the Day: Bald Eagle & Lincoln’s Sparrow
Other Birds of Note: Blue-winged Teal, Pileated Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Eastern Bluebird,
Pine Warbler
02/10/10 – Sewage Lagoons & Bog at Alfred, ON – Leader: Jacques Bouvier
6 to 11 degrees, cloudy. 20 birders; 55 species
Bird of the Day: Bald Eagle
Other Birds of Note: Snow Goose, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Common Loon, American Coot,
Horned Lark, American Pipit, Palm Warbler, Rusty Blackbird
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
09/10/10 – Parc nature du Bois de l’Île-Bizard, Île-Bizard, QC – Leader: Felix Hilton
Cool, sunny. 11 birders; 40 species
Bird of the Day: Red-shouldered Hawk
Other Birds of Note: Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch,
Magnolia Warbler, Palm Warbler
16/10/10 – Parc national de Plaisance, Plaisance, QC – Leader: Sheldon Harvey
Cool, windy, sunny breaks. 7 birders; 31 species
Bird of the Day: Common Raven
Other Birds of Note: American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Whitecrowned Sparrow
23/10/10 – Hudson, QC – Leader: Barbara MacDuff
Cold, sunny. 12 birders; 38 species
Bird of the Day: Cooper’s Hawk
Other Birds of Note: Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Bonaparte's Gull, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, White-crowned Sparrow
30/10/10 – Parc national d’Oka, Oka, QC – Leader: Wayne Grubert
Cool, cloudy & breezy. 18 birders; 45 species
Bird of the Day: Red-breasted Merganser
Other Birds of Note: American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck,
Bufflehead, Barrow’s Goldeneye. Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Hermit Thrush
06/11/10 – Morgan Arboretum & the McGill Bird Observatory, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC
Leader: Betsy McFarlane
Mostly clear, cool.14 birders; 34 species
Birds of the Day: White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow
Other Birds of Note: Common Raven, Brown Creeper, Purple Finch, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin,
Evening Grosbeak
13/11/10 – Reservoir Beaudet, Victoriaville & Etang Burbank, Danville, QC – Leader: Sheldon Harvey
Mostly cloudy, mild. 23 birders; 24 species
Birds of the Day: Cackling Goose, Ross’s Goose
Other Birds of Note: 100,000+ Snow Geese, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, American Coot,
American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow
Pileated
Woodpecker in
Summit Park
woods, Westmount
Photo:
Chuck Kling
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
Field Trips for January, early February 2011
Saturday 15 January - samedi 15 janvier
PARC-NATURE DU BOIS-DE-LIESSE
Leader: Wayne Grubert - 450-458-5498 - [email protected]
8:30 AM Meet at the south entrance at the end of rue Douglas-B-Floreani. Parking: $7.00. Half day. Coffee and light snacks
are available at the park centres, along with heated washrooms. Looking for winter finches, owls, Pileated Woodpecker. On last
winter’s field trip birds of note included Great Horned Owl, American Black Duck, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, and
House Finch.
8h30 Rassemblement à l'entrée sud, au bout de la rue Douglas-B-Floreani. Stationnement : 7,00$ Demi-journée. Des
installations sont prévues pour vous réchauffer en prenant un café chaud, un repas léger. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d’hiver,
chouette, hibou et Grand pic. Lors de notre sortie l’hiver dernier, nous avions observer les oiseaux suivants : Grand-duc
d'Amérique, Canard Noir, Merle d'Amérique, Junco ardoisé et Roselin familier.
Saturday 22 January – samedi 22 janvier
WINTER WONDERLAND FIELD TRIP - LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED
Leader: Sheldon Harvey - 450-462-1459 - [email protected]
In the winter months it is difficult to know in advance the best places to go birding. As a result, the destination of this trip will
be determined mere days before the actual outing. It will be chosen based on a number of factors including weather
conditions, bird activity and any special or rare bird sightings reported in the days leading up to the trip. Complete details of
the field trip, including the destination, the start time, the meeting spot, and the duration, will be posted on the BPQ webpage
and on The Song Sparrow Yahoo Group two or three days in advance of the Saturday outing.
Durant les mois d'hiver il est difficile de connaître à l'avance les meilleurs endroits pour observer les oiseaux. Par conséquent, la
destination de cette excursion sera déterminée quelques jours seulement avant la sortie. Elle sera choisie en fonction de certains
facteurs dont les conditions météorologiques, l'activité des oiseaux et toutes observations d'oiseaux rares ou spéciaux signalés
dans les jours précédents. Deux ou trois jours avant la sortie du samedi, surveillez notre page web sur les sorties
ornithologiques et le «Song Sparrow Yahoo Group» pour y trouver les détails complets de l'excursion, sa destination, l'heure, le
lieu du rassemblement et la durée.
Saturday 29 January - samedi 29 janvier
MONTREAL BOTANICAL GARDEN - JARDIN BOTANIQUE DE MONTRÉAL
Leader: David Mulholland - 514-630-6082 - [email protected]
8:00 AM: Meet in front of the restaurant, near the entrance on Sherbrooke St. East. There is a charge for parking inside the
gates. Coffee, light meals, edible insects and heated facilities are available. Half day. Looking for winter finches. Highlights
from last winter’s field trip include Rusty Blackbird, Cooper’s Hawk, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, and
American Goldfinch.
8h00 Rassemblement devant le restaurant, près de l'entrée principale du jardin sur la rue Sherbrooke Est. Prévoir des frais de
stationnement. Des installations sont prévues pour vous réchauffer en prenant un café chaud, un repas léger et/ou des insectes
comestibles. Demi-journée. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d'hiver. … Lors de la sortie de l’an dernier, voici les oiseaux
observés : Quiscale rouilleux, Épervier de Cooper, Merle d'Amérique, Jaseur d'Amérique, Roselin familier et Chardonneret
jaune.
New destination! Nouvelle destination ! Saturday 5 February -samedi 5 février
CHATEAUGUAY, RUE HIGGINS & SAINTE-CATHERINE RÉCRÉ-O-PARC
Leader: Tom Long - 450-692-1590 - [email protected]
8:00 AM: Meet at rue Higgins in Chateauguay. The birds to look for, at Higgins, will be Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted
Titmouse. But you never know what will show up. One Christmas Bird Count, 22 species were counted there in just over an
hour including a Carolina Wren and an Eastern Towhee. After checking out Higgins area, we will go to the récré-o-parc in
Sainte-Catherine where it will be mostly winter ducks and whatever else we can find. There are no facilities at the récré-o-parc.
Half day.
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BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC
From Montreal, take Hwy 138 and cross the Mercier Bridge. Stay right coming off the bridge and take Hwy 138 through
Kahnawake into Châteauguay. As you enter Châteauguay, turn right onto Boul. St-Francis. Follow St. Francis all the way to
the end where it meets the Châteauguay River at Blvd. Salaberry Nord. Turn right on to Salaberry Nord and continue till rue
Higgins and turn right. There is a small parking area on the left next to the cell-phone tower.
8h00 Rendez-vous à la rue Higgins. Sur la rue Higgins à Châteauguay les espèces recherchées sont le Pic à ventre roux et la
Mésange bicolore. Mais nous ne pouvons prévoir qui sera au rendez-vous. Lors d’un décompte de Noël, 22 espèces ont été
dénombrées dans un peu plus d'une heure comprenant un Troglodyte de Caroline ainsi qu’un Tohi à flancs roux. Après avoir
fait le tour de la zone Higgins, nous irons à la Récré-O-Parc à Sainte-Catherine. A la récré-o-parc, nous y verrons
presqu’exclusivement des canards d’hiver et peut-être autres surprises. Le Récré-O-Parc n’offre aucune installation sanitaire
ni de restauration. Demi-journée.
De Montréal, prendre la route 138 et traverser le pont Mercier. Rester à droite en venant du pont et prenez l'autoroute 138 à
Kahnawake dans Châteauguay. Lorsque vous entrez dans Châteauguay, tourner à droite sur le boul. St-François. Suivez St.
François jusqu'au bout à la rencontre de la rivière Châteauguay au boul. Salaberry Nord. Tourner à droite sur Salaberry
Nord et continuer jusqu'à la rue Higgins et tourner à droite. Il y a un petit parking sur la gauche à côté de la tour de
téléphonie cellulaire..
Saturday 12 February - samedi 12 février
STE-MARTHE, ST-CLET, STE-JUSTINE
Leader: Wayne Grubert - 450-458-5498 - [email protected]
8:00 AM Meet at Hudson Inn, exit 17 off Highway 40. Allow an hour's drive from Montreal. Bring warm clothes for
standing around or taking short walks (or in case weather conditions dictate a complete change of itinerary). We will try to
keep the number of cars to a minimum; therefore, car-pooling arranged ahead of time and/or at our rendezvous would be
greatly appreciated. Half day.
Looking for Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Snow Buntings and other open-country winter birds. On last winter’s field
trip, we were lucky enough to observe Snowy Owl, Snow Bunting along with Horned Lark and Sharp-shinned Hawk.
8h00 Rassemblement au Hudson Inn, sortie 17 de l'autoroute 40. De Montréal, prendre l'autoroute 40 ouest, en direction
d'Ottawa. Prévoir une heure à partir de Montréal. Apporter des vêtements suffisamment chauds pour de courtes marches et
permettant de passer du temps à l'extérieur; prévoir également d'éventuels changements de plans, dus à la météo. Nous vous
encourageons à faire du covoiturage en vue de limiter le nombre de voitures. Demi-journée
Espèces recherchées : Harfang des neiges, Buse pattue, Bruant des neiges et autres oiseaux d'hiver. L’hiver dernier, la chance
nous a permis d’observer : le Harfang des neiges et le Bruant des neiges ansi que l’Alouette hausse-col et l’Épervier brun
Saturday 19 February – samedi 19 février
Another WINTER WONDERLAND FIELD TRIP - LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED
Leader: Sheldon Harvey - 450-462-1459 - [email protected]
In the winter months it is difficult to know in advance the best places to go birding. As a result, the destination of this trip will
be determined mere days before the actual outing. It will be chosen based on a number of factors including weather
conditions, bird activity and any special or rare bird sightings reported in the days leading up to the trip. Complete details of
the field trip, including the destination, the start time, the meeting spot, and the duration, will be posted on the BPQ webpage
and on The Song Sparrow Yahoo Group two or three days in advance of the Saturday outing.
Durant les mois d'hiver il est difficile de connaître à l'avance les meilleurs endroits pour observer les oiseaux. Par conséquent,
la destination de cette excursion sera déterminée quelques jours seulement avant la sortie. Elle sera choisie en fonction de
certains facteurs dont les conditions météorologiques, l'activité des oiseaux et toutes observations d'oiseaux rares ou spéciaux
signalés dans les jours précédents. Deux ou trois jours avant la sortie du samedi, surveillez notre page web sur les sorties
ornithologiques et le «Song Sparrow Yahoo Group» pour y trouver les détails complets de l'excursion, sa destination, l'heure,
le lieu du rassemblement et la durée.
20