THE SONG SPARROW BIRDING IN by Toby Nowlan

The appeared again in front of me not three metres away shouting a harsh, scratchy alarm call in phrases of three notes. It clearly regarded me with some sort of disgust though was not afraid of being obvious and exposed. This was the second time I had seen the species and it confirmed that I hadn’t imagined things the first time (as we birders are prone to doing). Without wanting to give too much away, I saw a combination of bright white eye-ring, heavy pink bill, thrush-like size and pale grey wash across the mantle and breast which gives the bird an appearance like no other in the Sinclair and Bird Protection Quebec Langrand’s stunning field guide The of the Indian Ocean Islands. Since this forest of Makira, the largest remaining tract of protected forest left in Madagascar, has rarely been entered let alone surveyed by ornithologists, it is indeed possible that this was a new species. It side-stepped through the mid-canopy and through alarm-calling it drew the attention of other species. I was descended on by a mob of Greenbuls, Madagascar Bulbuls, Brush Warblers, Couas, Cuckoo-rollers, Cuckoo-shrikes, Illustration by Toby Nowlan Paradise-Flycatchers and the rightly sought-after Helmet Vanga, complete with monstrous electric blue Contents ... bill.

1 Birding in Madagascar The forests of Makira are in the north east of 3 President’s Message Madagascar, part of what was once an unbroken belt 6 Winter Bird Monitoring of glorious rainforest that lined Madagascar's eastern Newsletter of Bird 7 Bird Views coast. Though now reduced to a few poorly protected Protection Quebec 9 Book Reviews and Recommendations fragments, Madagascar's rainforests hold world-class 16 Winter Lecture series birding. For those who don't know Madagascar, it is a Editor: Jane Cormack 16 Forthcoming Field trips lost world: a zoologist's (and birder's) paradise. In any 19 International Birding natural or semi-natural in the country, one is December 2011 20 Calendar likely to encounter bizarre and wonderful species Vol. 54-3 found nowhere else on earth. Madagascar is world- renowned for its unparalleled endemism, and the 1 birds are no exception. With around 120 endemic species (this taxi-brousse (jam-packed bush taxi) and pirogue (dugout canoe) to number varies depending on yearly taxonomic splits and lumps), reach the lake and the rails. Drifting in a pirogue way out in the Madagascar has more endemic birds than any other country on middle of the lake, the second largest water body in the country, I earth. watched a pair of their tiny bodies creeping about the dense lattice phragmites reed stems.

The other success story of recent years, the Madagascar Pochard, was only ever recorded on Lac Alaotra, the largest lake in the country. Since it was declared extinct, it still hasn't been recorded here. However, two years ago, Lily Arison-Rene de Roland, Director of the Peregrine Fund, came across a pair of pochards dabbling blissfully on a very remote volcanic crater lake in the north of the country. That day will always belong to Lily; that euphoric moment when he re-discovered the Madagascar Pochard. To see these ducks in the wild takes almost as much effort as the . After two days in a taxi-brousse and a very painful seven-hour journey clinging to the back of a novice motorcyclist, I managed to find my way up to the lake. There, as if dropped into Jurassic Park, I emerged from the rainforest to look out on a perfectly circular lettuce-green lake fringed by three-cornered palms and freckled with all twenty five

BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC known wild Madagascar Pochards, dipping and diving as Tufted Ducks might do at my local lake back in Somerset. Any visiting birder to Mada should try and cover a cross-section of , as they are all very different ecosystems, each offering its own unique suite of endemic species. Some excellent birding is to Madagascar Pochard (photo - Wikipedia under creative commons licence) be had in the western forests of Kirindy and Ankarafantsika. Both offer glimpses of one of my favourite western While humans may have plundered a few of Mada's more endemics, the White-breasted Mesite, which whirs and bobs around spectacular bird species to extinction, such as the aptly named the forest floor like a clockwork toy. hippo-sized Elephant Bird, there have been a number of recent triumphs among the ornithological community. Two examples are My favourite birding was, however, the recent re-discoveries of the Sakalava Rail and Madagascar south-west around Toliara. This alien Pochard, both thought extinct for over 20 years. landscape, dominated by ten- metre- high thorny The Sakalava Rail has now been recorded in just three wetland sites (endemic to south-west Mada), most along the west coast. Reaching any of them is, to put it lightly, a bit closely resembles the saguaro - of a challenge. I was prepared to embark on this challenge to see dominated deserts of Arizona. From the the rail, since it is a particularly odd-looking species. It looks rather Long-tailed Ground Roller, resembling a like a four-year-old has been given four tubes of acrylic paint and cross between a Rainbow Pitta and a asked to produce a bird. Its bright yellow bill is stuck on to an Roadrunner to the Subdesert Mesite, almost entirely black head and body. Complete with bright pink legs the only bird known to defend territories and a red-orange eye, it looks like a diminutive but simple toy. Lac in groups, and the newly discovered Kinkony is the place to head, though get in touch with BirdlLife Red-shouldered Vanga, the birds found International beforehand, who can help advise on the logistics of here are some of the most interesting in getting there. It took me three days by excruciatingly uncomfortable the world. The best part is that with the

2 Illustration by Toby Nowlan right guide none of them are difficult to track down, though history. Among his achievements on that trip was locating flying squirrels generally only possible either side of the midday period of in the above our campsite. It is safe to say that without him these blistering heat. amazing creatures would have gone unnoticed by the rest of us. Toby has led an expedition to Borneo to study the effects of logging on Madagascar, though now largely degraded by a booming amphibians and reptiles in lowland rainforest. He spent some time in population in poverty, still holds, in my opinion, the most 2010 in Baja California studying the Vaquita porpoise, the rarest marine interesting species on earth. While it's tough to cover everywhere on earth. He has worked on primate censuses on the island of in a few weeks, you can see many of the endemics and Biako in Equatorial Guinea. When I last met up with him in Montreal in experience a fascinatingly different range of habitats. Whatever September, he had just returned from Baffin Island where he had been you do see in Madagascar, the chances are you won't see tagging narwhals near Pond Inlet. And he has recently spent four months anything like it anywhere else. in the eastern rainforest of Madagascar. He is working on a book about his Madagascar experiences of which Editor’s Note: We followed a slightly different convention in this this article is a tantalizing foretaste. In article and capitalized all the bird names, regardless of whether his latest email to me (Nov. 14/11) in they are species, families or groups. Madagascar has a large answer to mine requesting confirmation number of endemic birds and most readers haven’t had a chance of details in this bio, he added: "I’m to become familiar with them. currently getting odd jobs in the wildlife documentary-making world; in fact I Toby Nowlan was a regular on BPQ Field Trips during the 2008-09 write this from a hide I built on a beach season when he was studying Zoology for a year at McGill University in Costa Rica. It's 2:10 am and I'm whilst working for his BSc in Biological Sciences from Edinburgh sitting next to a camera waiting for a BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC University. He has since graduated with First Class Honours in Zoology jaguar to appear! The cameraman is and is now living near Bristol looking for full-time employment. I first met sleeping next to me." him on the BPQ Point Pelee trip in May 2009, where he impressed everyone with his all-round passion for anything to do with natural Biog and photo by Martin Bowman

One thing we shall not be doing is spreading ourselves too thinly Bird-Brained Thoughts by trying to answer every call upon our resources that we receive – The President’s Message it is tempting to try to do everything but it simply is not possible and we must learn to say no sometimes. Our guiding principle is In early October, the Board of Directors of BPQ “do less, but do it better” and we are going to concentrate on the locked themselves away for an intensive weekend things that matter to us all, the things we are best placed to retreat during which we looked closely at what we achieve and which will best serve the birds. Our renewed purpose do, what we don’t do and how we can function will see us concentrating over the next few years on three main better as a conservation charity and a birding areas. club. It was hard work and now we have to put into effect what we decided upon, which will be even harder work. It Conservation and Sanctuaries: We will be working to improve was also a fascinating experience for everyone who was there and the trails, trail maps and birding information at our Philipsburg has brought your board together around an achievable rolling plan sanctuary where we are hosts to some fascinating and quite rare for the years ahead. species of birds in a rich forested habitat. In a couple of years we will shift focus to the new Alfred Kelly reserve north of Montreal 3 where we are currently working with the NCC and other partners to develop management plans … with the result that in a very few I wish you all good winter birding. It’s certainly my favourite time years there will be two major bird sanctuaries, one north and one to get out and enjoy our birds – make it yours too. south of Montreal, that will have top-class facilities for visiting birders to enjoy. Of course, you can visit them today but we want Message du Président to make things better. Education: This has always been a big interest of ours and we Au début du mois d’octobre, les membres du have long had program that take birding to schools and youth conseil d'administration de POQ se sont groups. Going forward we will be extending our educational rencontrés lors d’une retraite intensive au cours de activities by coordinating all those things we do such as field trips, laquelle nous avons regardé de près ce que nous lectures, courses and publications such that we help the faisons, ce que nous ne faisons pas et comment maximum number of members of the public to know more about, nous pouvons mieux fonctionner en tant qu’un organisme de and thereby appreciate better, our birds and the places that birds bienfaisance en conservation et club d'ornithologie. Ce travail a inhabit. When people know about birds, they tend to want to été ardu et maintenant nous avons à mettre en œuvre ce que protect them. nous avons décidé de faire. Une tâche encore plus difficile! Cette retraite fût une expérience fascinante pour tous ceux et celles Research Support: Every year we invite applications from présents et en a résulté un plan d’action réaliste pour les années à scientists for financial support of their research studies. We have venir. developed close ties to long term research projects such as the BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC McGill Bird Observatory on the West Island and the Tadoussac Une chose que nous avons compris à ne pas faire est de travailler Bird Observatory amongst others. We hope to be able to continue sur trop de projets à la fois résultant de chaque demande que and extend this work so that knowledge of birds in general and nous recevons – c’est tentant d'essayer de tout faire, mais ce Quebec birds in particular is enhanced. n’est tout simplement pas possible et nous devrons apprendre à parfois dire non. Notre ligne directrice est la suivante : «en faire Meanwhile we continue to run our popular weekly field trips. We moins mais le faire mieux» et nous allons nous concentrer sur les encourage all birders to come and meet us and the birds in the projets qui comptent pour nous tous, les projets auxquels nous company of some expert ornithologists who will help you see and sommes les mieux placés pour les réaliser et qui vont avoir le understand so much more in places to which you may not have meilleur impact sur les oiseaux. Notre nouvelle vision pour les been before. prochaines années se concentrera sur trois sujets. One vitally important thing that BPQ does is to organize the Conservation et sanctuaires : Nous allons travailler pour annual Christmas Bird Counts centred on Montreal and Hudson. améliorer les installations pour les visiteurs, les cartes de sentiers These gather bird population data for our area that, together with et l'information ornithologique à notre sanctuaire de Philipsburg, the data from preceding decades (we have been at this a long un habitat forestier riche qui est occupé par des espèces time) builds a picture down the years of rises and falls in the d’oiseaux fascinantes et très rares. Dans quelques années, nous numbers of birds that live here in winter and build an allons réorienter nos priorités vers la nouvelle réserve Alfred Kelly understanding of the many environmental and other factors that au nord de Montréal, où nous travaillons actuellement avec CNC affect bird populations today. If you would like to take part – and et d'autres partenaires pour élaborer un plan de gestion. Donc, we encourage you to do so – you will find information on our nous pourrons compter sur deux grands sanctuaires d'oiseaux, website about how to help [http://goo.gl/eopg6] un au nord et un au sud de Montréal. Ces sanctuaires auront des

4 installations de première classe pour les ornithologues qui les Je vous souhaite à toutes et tous des belles observations fréquentent. Bien sûr, vous pouvez les visiter dès aujourd'hui, mais d’oiseaux cet hiver. C'est vraiment mon moment préféré pour nous aimerions améliorer ces endroits dans le futur. sortir et profiter de nos oiseaux. J’espère que vous en profiterez aussi. Éducation : L’éducation a toujours été une grande priorité pour nous et depuis longtemps nous avons des programmes d’introduction à l’ornithologie dans les écoles et pour divers groupes de jeunes. Dorénavant, nous allons étendre nos activités éducatives en coordonnant tout ce que nous faisons (excursions, conférences, cours, publications) afin de mieux rejoindre le public. Les gens étant mieux éduqués, ils sauront ainsi mieux apprécier nos oiseaux et leurs habitats et par conséquent ils seront portés à 2012 Parking Permit for vouloir les protéger. Montreal Nature Parks If you go birding in Montreal’s network of nature Soutenir la recherche : Chaque année, nous recevons des parks, you probably know that the daily parking rate demandes de soutiens financiers pour des projets de la part de la is currently $7. An annual parking permit allows communauté scientifique. Nous avons développé des liens étroits unlimited parking in any of the following parks: et à long terme pour des projets de recherche tels que BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC L’Anse-à-l’Orme, Cap-Saint-Jacques, Bois-de-l’Île- l'Observatoire de McGill Bird dans l’ouest de Montréal et Bizard, Bois-de-Liesse, Île-de-la-Visitation, and Pointe-aux- l’observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac. Nous espérons être en Prairies. The price is $50 for the first vehicle, $40 for each mesure de poursuivre et d'étendre ce travail afin que nos additional vehicle registered at the same address. The 2012 permit connaissances sur les oiseaux en général et les oiseaux du is available now, so people buying in December will benefit. Québec en particulier s’améliorent. For more information, contact: Philippe Murphy, Préposé à la Nous continuons d’organiser nos populaires excursions perception des revenus, Ville de Montréal, Direction des grands hebdomadaires. Nous encourageons tous les ornithologues parcs et du verdissement, Division de la gestion de l’entretien et amateurs à venir se joindre à nous et à nos ornithologues des operations des parcs, 801 rue Brennan – pavillon Duke, 4e chevronnés qui vous aideront à voir et à en apprendre davantage étage, bureau 4146, Montréal, QC, H3C 0G4. To pay by credit sur les oiseaux et cela dans des endroits des plus inusités. card, telephone him at: 514-280-6766. POQ organise aussi les décomptes annuels des oiseaux de Noël centrés sur Montréal et Hudson. Ces données sur les populations New Directors d'oiseaux de notre région combinées avec celles des décennies précédentes (il y a très longtemps que nous faisons ces All members are welcome to get involved as volunteers and in the recensements) nous donnent une image des hausses et des nomination of new Directors for the BPQ Board. baisses du nombre d'oiseaux qui vivent ici en hiver et ce, au fil des années. Cela nous permet aussi de comprendre les nombreux The deadline for nominations for the 2012-2014 term of office is facteurs environnementaux qui affectent les populations d'oiseaux April 16, 2012. d'aujourd'hui. Si vous souhaitez contribuer à ces recensements, vous trouverez de l’information notre site [LINK]. Nous vous For more information, visit http://goo.gl/UImmp 5 encourageons fortement à vous impliquer. weather. All birds banded receive a standard aluminum band, Winter Bird Monitoring while American Goldfinches and House Finches also get a colour by Marcel Gahbauer band on the other leg. For the winter of 2011-2012, this is a black band with two white alphanumeric characters. In November 2011, McGill Bird Observatory (MBO) launched the Feeder Bird Study, an How to help: attempt to learn more about the local winter MBO volunteers track sightings of all marked birds that return to movements of common backyard bird species. In the feeders on site, but more critical to the success of this the first phase of the study, the focal species are American program is knowing where these individuals go once they leave Goldfinch and House Finch; all individuals banded at MBO in MBO. If you see a colour-banded finch at your own feeders or winter receive a black band with a unique two-character code elsewhere, please visit http://www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/ that can be read from a moderate distance with binoculars (or feederbirds.html to provide us with details on your observation. using the zoom on a digital camera). Public participation is Although we expect that the majority of sightings will occur in critical to the success of this project — with your help, we can Montreal and surrounding areas, we suspect some individuals document the areas frequented by particular individuals and will range over great distances, so we welcome reports from explore whether patterns of movement differ by age or sex in the anywhere. You can also support the project by "adopting" one or species we are studying. more of our marked birds.

Background: Although both American Goldfinches and House Finches are BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC present year-round in the Montreal area, banding results at MBO This project was made possible by a grant from Bird Protection suggest that these species may not be as resident as they Quebec. appear at first glance. Between 2004 and 2010, 1,157 American Goldfinches and 189 House Finches were banded at MBO, but Seed for this project was generously provided by CCFA – Nature the rate of recapture of both species has been much lower than Expert. expected, especially during winter when there appears to be a surprising amount of turnover in the flocks frequenting our feeders.

Objectives: The primary aim of the Feeder Bird Study is to learn about the local movements of common urban bird species. By compiling sightings of uniquely marked individuals, we hope to be able to describe the extent of territories, and compare whether these vary by species, age or sex, and also how patterns of occurrence differ by season. A better understanding of these local movements may help with refining population estimates and the extent to which these species may actually be migratory.

Methods: The Winter Bird Monitoring Program at MBO spans the period from October 31 to March 27. During this period, volunteers maintain a set of feeders on site. Banding occurs periodically throughout the season, although limited to milder periods of House Finch #1A - the first to be banded (photo Simon Duval) 6 Bird Views Parlons d’oiseaux A summary of interesting bird sightings in Montréal Un bilan des observations intéressantes à Montréal et and around the province - by Pierre Bannon à travers la province - par Pierre Bannon

August-September 2011 Août-septembre 2011

Mute Swan: singles at Île Charron 2 Aug (Y. Gauthier) and Cygne tuberculé : des individus à l’Île Charron 2 août at Rosemère 16 Aug (DJ. Léandri). Trumpeter Swan: singles at (Y. Gauthier) et à Rosemère 16 août (DJ. Léandri). Cygne Val d’Or 18 Aug (R. Ladurantaye) and in La Mauricie NP 16 Sept trompette : des indiv à Val d’Or 18 août (R. Ladurantaye) et au Parc (S. Bouchard, H. Royer). Eurasian Wigeon: one in the Magdalen de la Mauricie 16 sept (S. Bouchard, H. Royer). Canard siffleur : un Is. 28 Sept (A. Richard). Manx Shearwater: 2 at Île Rouge, near aux IDLM 28 sept (A. Richard). Puffin des Anglais : 2 à l’Île Rouge, Tadoussac 15 Sept (R. Pintiaux, S. Guérin). près de Tadoussac 15 sept (R. Pintiaux, S. Guérin).

White-faced Ibis: one at Yamachiche 12 Aug (J. Gélinas et al.) Ibis à face blanche : un à Yamachiche 12 août (J. Gélinas et al.) and again 20 Aug (ph., M. Amyot et al.), only the 4th provincial revu le 20 août (ph., M. Amyot et al.), la 4ième présence seulement record. Purple Gallinule: one juv. at Sherbrooke 8-27 Sept, a au Québec. Talève violaçé : un juv à Sherbrooke 8-27 sept, une lengthy stopover (ph., S. Brûlotte, m. ob.). American Golden- présence prolongée (ph., S. Brûlotte, pl. ob.). Pluvier bronzé : Plover: breeding was confirmed in Aug near Puvirnituq in the nidification confirmée en août près de Puvirnituq au Nunavik où BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC Nunavik where the species had been reported in summer 2002 l’espèce avait été signalée durant l’été en 2002 et 2003. Le and 2003. Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpiper were also present in Bécasseau variable et le Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée ont aussi été the same area (M. Robert). Marbled Godwit: singles at Sept-Îles repérés dans cette région (M. Robert). Barge marbrée : des indiv à 27 Aug (JF. Laporte, C. Couture et al.) and at Hope 18 Sept Sept-Îles 27 août (JF. Laporte, C. Couture et al.) et à Hope 18 sept (D. Mercier et al.). Western Sandpiper: one at Kamouraska (D. Mercier et al.). Bécasseau d’Alaska : un à Kamouraska 8 sept 8 Sept (R. & F. Dion). Buff-breasted Sandpiper: about 20 birds (R. & F. Dion). Bécasseau roussâtre : environ 20 indiv signalés. reported. Short-billed Dowitcher: one ssp hendersoni in Bécassin roux : un oiseau en plumage nuptial de la ssp hendersoni breeding plumage at Sainte-Martine 2-4 Aug (M. Bertrand et al.). à Sainte-Martine 2-4 août (M. Bertrand et al.). Bécassin à long Long-billed Dowitcher . one at Kamouraska 3 Sept, the only bec : un à Kamouraska 3 sept, le seul signalé (F. Lachance, P. Otis, one reported (F. Lachance, P. Otis, A. Rasmussen). A. Rasmussen).

Sabine’s Gull: reported quite regularly near Tadoussac in Sept. Mouette de Sabine : signalée régulièrement près de Tadoussac en Singles were also reported at Beauharnois 6-17 Sept sept. Des oiseaux observés aussi à Beauharnois 6-17 sept (M. Bertrand, J. François, m. ob.) and at Deschênes 17-20 Sept (M. Bertrand, J. François, pl. ob.) et à Deschênes 17-20 sept (R. Dubois). Black-headed Gull: one seen regularly at Les (R. Dubois). Mouette rieuse : une vue régulièrement à Les Escoumins throughout the period (m. ob.); up to 30, including Escoumins durant la période (pl. ob.); jusqu’à 30, incluant des juveniles, were more expected at Havre-aux-Basques 21 Aug juvéniles, à Havre-aux-Basques 21 août (S. Denault, O. Barden). (S. Denault, O. Barden). Franklin’s Gull: singles at Victoriaville Mouette de Franklin : des individus à Victoriaville 13-17 août 13-17 Aug (C. Roy), and at Les Escoumins 16 Aug (JG. Beaulieu). (C. Roy), et à Les Escoumins 16 août (JG. Beaulieu). Labbe à Long-tailed Jaeger: several sightings were made, mainly in the longue queue : quelques présences signalées, surtout dans la Tadoussac area. Eurasian Collared-Dove: up to 4 indiv région de Tadoussac. Tourterelle turque : jusqu’à 4 individus continued at Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville throughout the period toujours présents à Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville pendant la période

7 (m. ob.). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 3 birds reported between 18 (pl. ob.). Coulicou à bec jaune: 3 individus signalés entre le 18 et le and 26 Sept. 26 sept.

Say’s Phoebe: singles were at Pointe-au-Père 9-11 Sept Moucherolle à ventre roux : des individus à Pointe-au-Père (S. Morand, Y. Gauthier, m. ob.), at Métabetchouan 10 Sept 9-11 sept (S. Morand, Y. Gauthier, pl. ob.), Métabetchouan 10 sept (J. Rousseau, C. Bellemare), and at Sept-Îles 18 Sept (J. Rousseau, C. Bellemare), et Sept-Îles 18 sept (F. Rousseu, (F. Rousseu, M. Forest-Tremblay), certainly a record number in M. Forest-Tremblay), sûrement un nombre record de cette espèce such a short period for this western species. Carolina Wren: an de l’Ouest pour une si courte période. Troglodyte de Caroline : un adult was feeding 3 young at Iberville 4 Aug (S. Rioux et al.); one adulte nourrissant 3 jeunes à Iberville 4 août (S. Rioux et al.); un à seen at Baie-Saint-Paul 12 Aug had apparently been present Baie-Saint-Paul 12 août, apparemment présent depuis le printemps since last spring (L. Rousseau, N. Burgdorfer). Blue-gray (L. Rousseau, N. Burgdorfer). Gobemoucheron gris-bleu : Gnatcatcher: 4 birds reported including one at Tadoussac 4 oiseaux signalés incluant un à Tadoussac 20 sept (T. Biteau et al.) 20 Sept (T. Biteau et al.) and one at Port-Cartier 21 Sept et un à Port-Cartier 21 sept (RL. Dumais). Traquet motteux : un à (RL. Dumais). Northern Wheatear: one at L’Anse-Pleureuse L’Anse-Pleureuse 20 sept (A. Coughlan). Grive de Bicknell : un 20 Sept (A. Coughlan). Bicknell’s Thrush: a hatch-year bird was jeune de l’année bagué à l’observatoire d’oiseaux McGill, Sainte- banded at the McGill Bird Observatory, Sainte-Anne-de- Anne-de-Bellevue, 26 sept, le 3ième dans l’histoire de cette station Bellevue, 26 Sept, the third to be banded in the history of this (ph., S. Duval). station (ph., S. Duval). Paruline orangée : une à Québec 28 sept (S. Beaucher). Paruline Prothonotary Warbler: one at Québec City 28 Sept vermivore : une à Cap Tourmente 10 sept (L. Belleau). Bruant à BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC (S. Beaucher). Worm-eating Warbler: one at Cap Tourmente joues marron : un à Tadoussac 19 sept a servi de repas à un 10 Sept (L. Belleau). Lark Sparrow: one at Tadoussac 19 Sept Épervier brun le lendemain matin (S. Denault). Il s’agissait de la fell a prey to Sharp-shinned Hawk the next morning 4ième mention pour Tadoussac depuis 2003. (S. Denault). It was the 4th record for Tadoussac since 2003. Veuillez communiquer vos observations intéressantes à: Please report your interesting bird observations to: Pierre Bannon, 1517 Leprohon, Montréal, Qc H4E 1P1. Tél: Pierre Bannon, 1517 Leprohon, Montréal, Qc H4E 1P1. Tel: 514-766-8767 en soirée. Courriel: [email protected] 514-766-8767 after 7:00 p.m. or by E-mail at [email protected]

Education Committee BPQ’s Education Committee would like to help with expenses for For more information go to the Bird Studies Canada website at any teen who is interested in attending the Doug Tarry Young (http://goo.gl/j3HGH ) and then contact Barbara MacDuff at Ornithologists' Workshop in Long Point, Ontario in August 2012. 514-457-2222, [email protected]

8 ornithological facts and interesting anecdotes. I highly Book Reviews recommend it to anyone who enjoys nature, birding and fine writing. A few of our long-term members and frequent contributors to The Song Sparrow were asked to tell us about a book or two that they have found How to be a “Bad” Birdwatcher inspiring and would like to recommend to other To the greater glory of life birders and readers. Simon Barnes If you have a book you would like to tell us about, contact the Short Books, London editor at [email protected] We will publish a selection of the best in upcoming issues.

Jean Bacon recommends

An Enchantment of Birds Memories of a birder’s life BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC Richard Cannings Greystone Books, Douglas & McIntyre Publishing Group, Vancouver/Toronto/Berkeley

In this charming book, Dick Cannings describes the characteristics of various bird species and the context in which he has seen or studied them. At the same time, he paints a vivid picture of his childhood and of a life devoted to the natural world. He is a wildlife biologist and ecologist, and has been an active birder all his life. He is well-known to Canadian birders as an organizer of breeding bird surveys and population censuses. He is also the Bird Studies Canada coordinator of the Audubon This book is great fun and an inspiration to novice and and old Christmas Bird Counts. hand alike. The author defines “bad birdwatcher” as "anybody who enjoys birds without any pretension of expertise."The book Each chapter of An Enchantment of Birds is a vignette of an opens with Simon Barnes claiming to be a bad birdwatcher, but individual bird species. These vignettes provide a wealth of acknowledging that he is world-class when it comes to enjoying insights into the anatomy, evolution, habits and behaviour of the birds. respective species. At the same time, the author evokes specific landscapes and environments, most of which are in British Simon Barnes is the chief sportswriter for The Times of London, Columbia, his home province. The style of writing is lively and but, when he’s not reporting on football, rugby or cricket, he eloquent, and the book is illustrated with attractive line drawings. adores looking at birds whenever and wherever he can. Watching It is extremely readable and brimming with fascinating 9 birds has become an integral part of his life. In an interview in The Sunday Times (of London) when this book came out, he stated that “the aim of my book is to allow people to set free the birdwatcher within.” Whilst it is true that much of this book is persuasively directed at the uninitiated, the pleasure that Simon Barnes finds in birding and the natural environment is contagious and something that all birders can identify with. As in An Enchantment of Birds, we learn a lot about what makes him tick, as well as plenty of information about birds.

Simon Barnes is not at all a birder of the twitcher variety. His stated philosophy is that “just looking at birds is one of life’s greatest pleasures.” His easy style of writing is a joy, also. His book is beautifully written, and adorned with jaunty little line drawings. It is full of wry humour and is a fun and stimulating read. This book could inspire a latent birder and entertain the most seasoned kind. A caveat for Canadian readers: the book is a bit “Brit-centric”, but its fundamental message can be appreciated

BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC the world over.

Michel Bertrand vous propose:

Birds of North America and Greenland de Norman Arlott

Princeton University Press, 2011

Un tout nouveau livre sur nos oiseaux Il était question du néarctique dans la publicité et j'espérais voir Il devait être disponible à partir du 23 octobre et je l'avais enfin arriver sur le marché un ouvrage livrant ce qu'il promet en commandé en pré-vente pour 12$ (prix réduit encore en vigueur). s'annonçant comme un livre sur les oiseaux de l'Amérique du Je l'ai reçu quatre jours en avance. Je parle de Birds of North Nord. J'ai été déçu sur ce point. Le titre de ce nouveau livre n'est America and Greenland de Norman Arlott qui est publié dans la pas plus honnête que ceux de ses devanciers et, comme eux, il série des Princeton Illustrated Checklists, une collection très utile omet la portion nord-américaine du Mexique. Il n'y a donc pour nous informer succinctement sur les oiseaux de la plupart toujours pas, sur le marché, de livre couvrant la totalité de des parties de notre planète (Antilles, Amérique centrale, l'avifaune néarctique ou nord-américaine, malgré le recours répété Amérique du Sud, paléarctique, diverses portions de l’Afrique, îles à des titres fallacieux par divers éditeurs. C'est dommage. Avec du Pacifique). quelques pages en plus, ce nouveau livre se serait davantage démarqué en apportant quelque chose de nouveau dans le paysage des guides ornithologiques. 10 Ce livre a cependant du mérite. Il est conforme au modèle déjà pour l'ensemble du territoire asiatique situé au sud du utilisé par Arlott pour ses illustrated checklists sur les oiseaux du paléarctique... paléarctique et des Antilles, présentant dans un livre très concis une iconographie de qualité (déclassant les dessins rudimentaires Michel Bertrand is composing an article with Pierre Bannon to update us de Van Perlo pour des livres semblables). Arlott est un génie pour on the Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas. Look for it in the next issue of The faire court et complet, tout en maintenant un excellent niveau de Song Sparrow. qualité. Ses livres présentent toutes les espèces des territoires concernés dans le format de vrais livres de poche. Trouvant facilement sa place dans la poche arrière d’un jean, son dernier livre est de loin le plus petit des guides sur nos oiseaux. Il traite de Bob Barnhurst recommends plus de 900 espèces en les montrant dans leurs plumages principaux, à l'exclusion du plumage juvénile. Une petite carte de Greenshanks distribution est incluse pour toutes les espèces qui ont une aire de by Desmond and Maimie Nethersole-Thompson distribution illustrable ainsi qu'un bref texte, de trois à neuf lignes, signalant certaines caractéristiques peu ou pas visibles sur les T & AD Poyser, 1979 dessins, décrivant les chants et les cris et ajoutant quelques notes sur la distribution des oiseaux concernés.

Le livre n'est pas un véritable field guide et il ne rivalise pas avec BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC le Sibley de 2000, avec la 6e édition du NGS qui vient de paraître, ni avec le Stokes de 2010 qui traitent avec beaucoup plus de détails de l'ensemble des oiseaux du Canada et des USA, mais il est beaucoup plus léger. Il saura satisfaire aux besoins des personnes qui souhaitent une présentation de qualité de la totalité de notre avifaune dans un minimum de petites pages. Parmi les personnes à qui il peut être utile, il y a celles qui possèdent seulement un guide québécois ou un guide pour l’est du continent. Pour tous les amateurs d’oiseaux, il peut constituer un guide complémentaire particulièrement économique. Il y a bien le Bécasseau roussâtre qui est peu reconnaissable, le Butor d'Amérique qui est trop roux et quelques erreurs de détails comme la continuité entre les rayures du cou et celles du côté de la poitrine chez le Plongeon du Pacifique, mais il y a très peu de cette sorte d'imprécisions et, de toute façon, on en trouve dans tous les guides. Arlott donne de très justes représentations de presque tous les oiseaux qu'il peint et il sait y ajouter, dans ses brefs textes, les renseignements les plus essentiels. C'est déjà Desmond Nethersole-Thompson was already a legend in the beaucoup. world by the time I read this book. He and his young family were particularly famous for their decades-long study of the Voilà un livre à posséder, donc, autant pour son utilité que pour Greenshank, a Eurasian shorebird found breeding in northern notre plaisir. J'aimerais maintenant un pareil illustrated checklist Scotland. Being a lover of the place, I was fascinated by the

11 descriptive text and very readable prose. Situated in Sutherland This book describes and illustrates with stunning colour and Ross and Cromarty (now Wester Ross), the Nethersole- photographs 44 of the 45 species of hummingbirds known to Thompson’s fieldwork fascinates, amazes and inspires ― it breed in Costa Rica. It is a must for anyone contemplating a certainly did so for me. Perhaps it was this one book alone that birding trip to Costa Rica, or simply curious about these incredibly set me on a course of study of birds, rather than just colourful, tiny birds. The first half of the book describes the , and I haven’t stopped since then. Clear and concise anatomy, behaviour, and feeding strategies of hummingbirds, as and full of detail, it is the perfect starting point for a budding field well as their adaptations to seasonal and climatic changes. This ornithologist, finely demonstrating the right way to do things, part is packed with interesting information and every page is while protecting the very bird you are studying. Bravo. illustrated with colour photos. Some hummingbird species find a good flowering and defend it against all comers; others hide out nearby and make quick surreptitious raids on those trees; others make a tour of an area, feeding at a series of flowers. The second half of the book devotes one or two pages to each of Nick Acheson recommends the 44 species covered, with information on range, special behavior, and flowers that are preferred sources of food. Most Hummingbirds of Costa Rica species have at least one magnificent half-page or full-page by Michael and Patricia Fogden photo, with iridescent gorgets showing off their bright colours. Appendices list the species covered along with Latin and Spanish Firefly Books, 2006 names, identify the flowers shown in each photograph, and show BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC the main localities where each hummingbird can be found in Costa Rica.

Jean De Marre vous propose:

Peter Matthiessen The Birds of Heaven: Travels with Cranes.

North Point Press, New York

Sur les quinze espèces de grues vivant actuellement sur notre planète, onze seraient menacées ou en déclin.

Tout ce que les grues font, elles semblent le faire de façon assurée, consciente et gracieuse. «Il y a les oiseaux et il y a les grues, comme il y a les singes et l’homme».

La grue du Canada (Grus Canadensis) voyage en migration à 1500 m d’altitude et peut s’élever en planant beaucoup plus haut. Ce

12 qui n’est pas impressionnant quand on la compare à sa cousine edition came out in 1999, eurasienne (Grus grus) et la grue demoiselle (Anthropoïdes virgo) and I was enthralled. I qui pour traverser l’Himalaya deux fois par an en migration de la started fantasizing about Sibérie à l’Inde doivent voyager à des altitudes d’au moins 4 000 doing a myself, m. and I rhapsodized over the book to birding L’écriture de Peter Matthiessen, sa vision, son style tout aussi friends and poétique que scientifique, ses observations et ses témoignages acquaintances. It was émouvants me paraissent extrêmement respectueux envers ses while I was doing just that lecteurs autant qu’envers les sujets abordés. at a nature festival that someone said, “But have you read Kenn Kaufman’s Nous voyageons avec lui sur tous les continents (excepté Kingbird Highway? I think l’Amérique du sud, les grues y étant absentes) à la rencontre des it’s even better―and it’s 15 espèces de grues d’une façon intime et profondément sentie. much funnier.” I soon Mais il dépasse de loin l’anecdote, car plongé dans le contexte acquired that book too social, géographique, mythique et culturel, l’intérêt porté aux and I was hooked again! grues est profondément lié à ce que nous sommes nous-mêmes, les humains, comme êtres vivants sur notre planète. Other than describing North American big years, the two books BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC are very different. But both have inspired me to daydream about Les illustrations de Robert Bateman sont un ajout agréable et abandoning my work, putting my furniture in storage, and taking informatif de qualité. off to spend a year birding. I haven’t done a big year yet. Maybe I never will. But thanks to these books and others like them, I can L’édition de ce livre date de 2001. On peut trouver des dream. informations précises et plus récentes au sujet des grues en visitant des sites tels : http://www.savingcranes.org/ (International Crane Foundation); http://www.operationmigration.org Marcel Gahbauer recommends:

Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds Zofia Laubitz recommends: by Scott Weidensaul

The Quest, Pete Dunne. Mariner Books, 1999 North Point Press, 1999 Kingbird Highway, Kenn Kaufman. Mariner Books, 2000 Scott Weidensaul has authored a number of excellent books on The “big year” book has been a recognized subgenre of birding natural history, with themes ranging from the history of North literature for quite some time―since well before the book of that American birding to the plight of endangered species, all of them name (let alone the movie) appeared on the scene. The first big meticulously researched and eloquently written. One particular year book I read, though not the first to be published, was Pete title stands out for me though, his 1999 book Living on the Wind, Dunne’s The Feather Quest. I read it not long after the second which was actually nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in the non-fiction category. Admittedly I may be somewhat biased given my own 13 fascination with migration. Instead of succumbing to despair, she lived her passion ― However, what sets the book travelling to see new birds. She actually lived 17 more years, and apart is the ease with which during that time, Phoebe Snetsinger became the world’s number Weidensaul weaves anecdotes one lister, passing 8,000 species seen. She was killed in the end, from his own research and travel not by cancer, but rather in a motor accident on a birding trip in with the science of migration. The Madagascar in 1999, doing what she loved best. At her time of result is a highly engaging death, she had seen more species of birds than anyone else in narrative, with tangents into history, over 8,400! aspects of migration research serving to provide context for the I first met Phoebe on a pelagic trip out of Monterey, and then personal experiences he chooses again in 1984 sharing three marvellous weeks of birding with her to highlight. Weidensaul has and four dozen others on that remote and forlorn birding mecca divided the book into three called Attu. She was a humble but well-spoken woman who kept sections, “Southbound”, “Hiatus”, careful notes, and she shared many birding stories with us on that and “Northbound”, each island when miserable weather prevented us from birding. The last containing five chapters that focus time I talked with her was after a birding trip into Burma on different themes regarding the (Myanmar) in 1985 ― it was at the Rangoon airport. As she sat paths followed and challenges beside me, she admitted that she was debating whether to faced by migrants. A 24-page section at the back of the book continue onward to Hong Kong, or to return to the States ― her BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC expands on footnotes from the text and provides a bibliography melanoma had returned. As it turned out, she continued on ― for each chapter, and is followed by a detailed index. I highly carpe diem! We exchanged recommend this book both as a great read and as a reference. Christmas cards for a few years after that. She was PS: I had just finished writing this summary when I received word always an inspiration and a that last night at his banding station in Pennsylvania, Scott remarkable lady. I don’t recaptured a Northern Saw-whet Owl that I banded at McGill Bird know what the female Observatory last October! equivalent is of “gentleman” but she was certainly it! Steve Charlton recommends: Reading her memoirs Birding on Borrowed Time brought back great Phoebe Snetsinger and H. Douglas Pratt memories ― of travelling, American Birding Association, 2003 of birding, and of simply appreciating and enjoying When I think of bird books which were “inspirational," one stands this thing called life! Yes out in my mind: Birding on Borrowed Time. In 1981, an indeed ― carpe diem! enthusiastic birder from St. Louis was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and was given about a year to live. She decided that, as long as she could, she would dedicate herself to seeing as many species of birds in the world as her health would allow. 14 Richard Gregson recommends: holds your attention, it is worth pursuing. No time spent on the Labrador Ducks of the world can ever be said to have been The Curse of the Labrador Duck wasted. by Prof. Glen Chilton I encourage you all to acquire and read this wonderful book (I had Harper-Collins, 2009 it as a Christmas gift and it filled the gaps between goose and brandy most entertainingly) and then look out for the Labrador This book, subtitled "My Obsessive Quest to the Edge of Duck in your life ― however weird you and others might think it to Extinction", concerns one biologist's lifelong determination to see be. Having this sort of enquiring mind and letting it lead you where every extant stuffed specimen in the world of the now extinct it will is ultimately what biology, let alone birding, is all about. Labrador Duck. A duck that can tenuously be linked to BPQ as there is a record of it being seen by no less a person than Audubon himself in the bay that holds our Île-aux-Perroquets sanctuary. New Members

Dr. Chilton, a renowned ornithologist and behavioural ecologist, Warm greetings to new members: Bronwyn developed an obsession with this dead duck, visiting 30 cities and Chester from Montréal, Sheila Fischman & Donald travelling over 130,000 km in his search for samples to study. The Winkler from Montréal, and Sharon Hayden & book is funny, engaging, endlessly fascinating, full of information Mathias Mutzl from Pincourt. We look forward to BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC you never knew you needed (but will be glad of when you have it), seeing you on our field trips and at our monthly replete with wonderful meetings. Good Birding! characters and, yes, inspiring. Why inspiring? Because it reminds us that Reminders: Mark your once we start to discover Calendars! birds and move beyond the mere ticking of exotica, there Christmas Bird Counts are many tempting alleys and by-ways to wander down and Montreal - December 17th that none of these diversions Contact Sheldon Harvey at: 450-462-1459 should be dismissed if only [email protected] or Barbara Szabo at: 514-735-9812 because one of Canada's professional biologists has [email protected] thought it worthwhile to go there too. It reminds me to Hudson - December 27th. follow what interests me and Contact Jean Demers [email protected] not to be put off by people rolling their eyes and thinking ** Ongoing FeederWatch programs: (November 18 to April 6) me to be crazy. However To participate in the Feederwatch program of Les Amis de la bizarre your interest, if it Montagne on Mount Royal, leads to new knowledge and call 514-843-8240 ext. 242

15 BPQ’s 2012 **Time: 7:30 pm; (exceptionally, on March 7, the lecture will be Winter Lecture Series held at 8.p.m.) Cost: $15 per lecture for BPQ members and $20 for non- members Autumn has been glorious this year, but winter will be here all too soon; however, it does mean that Further details and registration forms will be available at monthly birders can look forward to the 2012 season of the meetings, and on the website: www.birdprotectionquebec.org . BPQ Winter Lecture Series! BPQ Membership Services is very pleased to announce that (once again) we have been able to call For more information please contact Averill Craig at upon the services of a terrific slate of experts to help you expand 514-484-6575, [email protected] , your knowledge of birds, and improve your birding skills. Come to or Audrey Speck 514-487-4032, [email protected] . all or some of our winter bird course lectures, to be held on alternate Wednesdays in February and March 2012. Mark these dates in your agenda!

February 8 Field Trips for Jan/early “A Drift of Buntings” February 2012 An overview of the Snow Bunting BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC With Simon Duval & Gay McDougall Gruner Saturday 14 January - samedi 14 janvier February 22 Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse “Rise and Shine, It’s Dark Outside!” The secret lives of Whip-poor-wills and Common Leader: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498 Nighthawks [email protected]

With Gregory Rand 8:30 a.m. Meet at the south entrance. Take Henri-Bourassa exit March 7** 60 off Highway 40 west. Stay on the north service road west to “Let’s Enjoy Our Ducks” Henri-Bourassa Boulevard (approx. 2 km). Exit east on Henri- Tips to identify North American Waterfowl Bourassa Blvd. Almost immediately turn left onto rue Douglas-B- Floreani. Drive to the end of the street. Parking: $7.00. Looking for With Rodger Titman winter finches, owls, Pileated Woodpecker. Half day.

March 21 8h30 Rassemblement à l'entrée sud. Prendre la sortie # 60 Henri- “The Early Bird Gets the … Grub” Bourassa de l'autoroute 40 ouest. Demeurer sur la voie de service The intricate lives of birds and insects; co-evolution nord vers l'ouest jusqu'au boulevard Henri-Bourassa (environ 2 and adaptation km). Prendre la sortie est du boulevard Henri Bourassa. Presqu'immédiatement, tourner à gauche sur la rue Douglas-B- With Chris Cloutier Floreani et se rendre au bout de la rue. Stationnement : 7,00$ Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d’hiver et Grand pic. Demi- Place: Knox Crescent Kensington & First Presbyterian Church, journée. 6225 Godfrey Avenue, NDG 16 Saturday 21 January – samedi 21 janvier travel east to Sherbrooke Street. Turn left (northeast) on South Shore Driving Trip Sherbrooke and proceed approximately 1.2 km to Ave.Yves- Thériault and turn left (northwest). Follow Ave. Yves-Thériault as it Leader: Sheldon Harvey 450-462-1459 turns right then left to the corner of Jovette-Bernier. The park is [email protected] across the street. If you don't have a parking permit for the nature The exact route for this trip will be chosen based on a number of parks, parking is available on the streets in this area. Meet at the factors including weather conditions, bird activity and any special Chalet. The park has a variety of habitats. Looking for feeder or rare bird sightings reported in the days leading up to the trip. birds, winter finches. Owls have been seen in the past. Half day. Complete details of the field trip, including the route, start time, meeting spot, and duration will be posted on the BPQ webpage 8h00 Prendre Boul. Métropolitain (autoroute 40) direction est vers and on the Songsparrow e-mail forum two or three days in l'extrémité nord de l'île de Montréal. Prendre la sortie Henri- advance of the outing. Bourassa et continuez vers l'est jusqu'à la rue Sherbrooke. Tournez à gauche (nord-est) sur la rue Sherbrooke et de continuez environ 1,2 km jusqu’à l’avenue Yves-Thériault et tournez à gauche (nord-ouest). Suivez l’avenue Yves-Thériault qui tourne à Saturday 28 January - samedi 28 janvier droite puis à gauche au coin de Jovette-Bernier. Le parc est de Montreal Botanical Garden - Jardin Botanique l’autre côté de la rue. Le stationnement est disponible dans les De Montréal rues du voisinage. Le lieu de rendez-vous sera au Chalet. Le parc a une variété d'habitats. Nous serons à la recherche d’oiseaux de BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC Leader: Guy Zenaitis 514-256-8118 mangeoires et de nos granivores hivernaux. Des hiboux ont été [email protected] observés dans ce parc dans le passé. Demi-journée.

8:00 a.m. Meet in front of the restaurant, near the entrance on Sherbrooke St. East. There is a charge for parking inside the gates. Looking for winter finches. Half day. Saturday 11 February -samedi 11 février Chateauguay, Rue Higgins & Sainte-Catherine 8h00 Rassemblement devant le restaurant, près de l'entrée du Récré-O-Parc jardin sur la rue Sherbrooke Est. Prévoir des frais de stationnement. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d'hiver. Demi- Leader: Tom Long 450-692-1590 journée. [email protected]

8:00 a.m.: Meet at rue Higgins in Châteauguay. The birds to look Saturday 4 February - samedi 4 février for at Higgins will be Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted Secteur-Bois-de-l’Heritage (Parc-nature de la Titmouse. But you never know what will show up. One Christmas Pointe-aux-Prairies) Bird Count, 22 species were counted there in just over an hour including a Carolina Wren and an Eastern Towhee. After checking Leader: Joël Coutu 514-324-5092 out the Higgins area, we will go to the Récré-O-Parc in Sainte- [email protected] Catherine, where it will be mostly winter ducks and whatever else we can find. There are no facilities at the Récré-O-Parc. 8:00 a.m. Take Boul. Metropolitain (Highway 40)east toward the Half day. northeast end of Montreal Island. Exit at Henri-Bourassa and 17 From Montreal, take Hwy 138 and cross the Mercier Bridge. Stay drive from Montreal. Looking for Snowy Owls, Rough-legged right coming off the bridge and take Hwy 138 through Kahnawake Hawks, Snow Buntings and other open-country winter birds. into Châteauguay. As you enter Châteauguay, turn right onto Boul. Bring warm clothes for standing around or taking short walks (or Saint-Francis. Follow Saint. Francis all the way to the end where it in case weather conditions dictate a complete change of itinerary). meets the Châteauguay River at Blvd. Salaberry Nord. Turn right We will try to keep the number of cars to a minimum; therefore, on to Salaberry Nord and continue till rue Higgins and turn right. car-pooling arranged ahead of time and/or at our rendezvous There is a small parking area on the left next to the cell-phone would be greatly appreciated. Half day. tower. 8h00 Rassemblement au Hudson Inn, sortie 17 de l'autoroute 40. 8h00 Rendez-vous à la rue Higgins. Sur la rue Higgins à De Montréal, prendre l'autoroute 40 ouest, en direction d'Ottawa. Châteauguay, les espèces recherchées sont le Pic à ventre roux et Prévoir une heure à partir de Montréal. Espèces recherchées : la Mésange bicolore. Mais nous ne pouvons prévoir qui sera au Harfang des neiges, Buse pattue, Bruant des neiges et autres rendez-vous. Lors d’un décompte de Noël, 22 espèces ont été oiseaux d'hiver. Apporter des vêtements suffisamment chauds dénombrées dans un peu plus d'une heure comprenant un pour de courtes marches et permettant de passer du temps à Troglodyte de Caroline ainsi qu’un Tohi à flancs roux. Après avoir l'extérieur; prévoir également d'éventuels changements de plans, fait le tour de la zone Higgins, nous irons à la Récré-O-Parc à dus à la météo. Nous vous encourageons à faire du covoiturage Sainte-Catherine. A la Récré-O-Parc, nous y verrons en vue de limiter le nombre de voitures. Demi-journée. presqu’exclusivement des canards d’hiver et peut-être autres surprises. Le Récré-O-Parc n’offre aucune installation sanitaire ni BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC 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. Saint-Francis. Suivez Saint-Francis, 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 18 February - samedi 18 février Sainte-Marthe, Saint-Clet, Sainte-Justine Leader: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498 [email protected]

8:00 a.m. Meet at Hudson Inn, exit 17 off Highway 40. From Montreal, take Highway 40 west towards Ottawa. Allow an hour's Snow Bunting (photo - Wikipedia under creative commons licence)

18 Past Field Trip Reports 17/09/11 – Pointe-Yamachiche, Yamachiche, QC Other Birds of Note: Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Leader: Frédéric Hareau Great Egret, American Coot, Tufted Titmouse, Blackpoll Warbler, Clear, sunny, 18°C.. 10 birders; 52 species American Tree Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird Bird of the Day: American Golden-Plover 29/10/11 – Centre d'interpretation de la nature du Lac-Boivin, Other Birds of Note: Snow Goose, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling, White- Granby, QC – Leader: Sheldon Harvey rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Sunny, cool. 11 birders; 24 species Philadelphia Vireo, American Pipit, Northern Parula, Magnolia Bird of the Day: Rusty Blackbird Warbler, Wilson's Warbler Other Birds of Note: Snow Goose, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Dark-eyed Junco 24/09/11 – Philipsburg, QC – Leader: Sandy Montgomery Cloudy with drizzle. 4 birders: 05/11/11 - Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies, Montreal, QC Bird of the Day: 9 Turkey Vultures Leaders: Jean Demers & Clémence Soulard Other Birds of Note: Merlin, Common Raven, House Wren Clear, mild. 11 birders; 26 species Birds of the Day: Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck 01/10/11 – Parc-nature de l’Île-Bizard, Île Bizard, QC Other Birds of Note: Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Purple Leader: Felix Hilton Finch, Pine Siskin Cold and rainy 80°C 5 birders BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC A few common species. No birds of note. 12/11/11 - Voyageur Provincial Park, ON – Leader: Joël Coutu Cloudy, 8°C. 10 birders; 28 species 08/10/11 – Cooper Marsh, South Lancaster, ON Birds of the Day: Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle Leader: Martin Bowman Other Birds of Note: Bufflehead, Ruffed Grouse, Belted Beautiful day; between 12 and 22°C. 14 birders; 36 species Kingfisher, Purple Finch Bird of the Day: Rusty Blackbird Other Birds of Note: Northern Harrier, Golden-crowned Kinglet, 19/11/11 – St-Basile-le-Grand, Île-Goyer, Chambly, QC Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow Leader: Sheldon Harvey A mix of sun and cloud; cool. 18 birders; 27 species 15/10/11 – Parc national d’Oka, Oka, QC Birds of the Day: Greylag Goose, Great , Fulvous Leader: Wayne Grubert Whistling-Duck Very windy & overcast. 4 birders; 29 species Other Birds of Note: Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebe, Red- Bird of the Day: 3 Red-tailed Hawks tailed Hawk, Bonaparte's Gull, Horned Lark, American Tree Other Birds of Note: Wood Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Sparrow Northern Harrier, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby- crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush 26/11/11 – Morgan Arboretum, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC Leader: Richard Gregson 22/10/11 – Refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville, Île St- Cloudy, mild. 35 birders; 24 species Bernard, Châteauguay, QC – Leader: Tom Long Birds of the Day: White-winged Crossbill, Snow Bunting 8 to 10°C cloudy, very little wind and no rain. 17 birders; 47 Other Birds of Note: Pileated Woodpecker, Red-shouldered species Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Bird of the Day: White-winged Scoter Siskin, Golden-crowned Kinglet

19 INTERNATIONAL BIRDING AT ITS BEST: AUSTRALIA IN OCTOBER Monthly meeting and lecture Monday 9 January 2012 Pierre Bannon and Nick Acheson recently participated in a three- Rainbow Lorikeet week birding tour of eastern Australia organized by Laval Roy. Thirteen birders from Quebec took part, guided by two experts on Photo: Pierre Bannon Australian birds working for the company Tropical Birding. Bird Protection Quebec Newsletter Contacts Pierre and Nick will begin the evening with a discussion of is a registered charity. international birding: where you might go, what touring Donations are tax Editor: Jane Cormack companies offer their services, what conditions you might expect, deductible. [email protected] and how much it will cost. They will then describe the highlights Charity Registration # Layout: Richard Gregson of their Australia trip, discussing the different habitats visited, 11925 2161 RR0001. Birdviews: Pierre Bannon several bird families unique to Australasia or Asia, and some of [email protected] BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC the most interesting and colourful species seen (a total of 433 Principal Officers species were listed by the group). Pierre’s photographs will illustrate the presentation. If time permits, Nick and Pierre will President - Richard Gregson Contact BPQ: briefly discuss other areas they have visited (Antarctica, Vice-Presidents - [email protected] Galapagos, Ecuador, and Venezuela). David Mulholland & Marie-Hélène Gauthier Bird Protection Quebec Treasurer - Jean Harwood P.O. Box 43, Station B Gregson Montreal QC H3B 3J5 Secretary - Jean Bacon The Song Sparrow ISSN Tel: 514-637-2141 1710-3371 Legal Deposit: National Library and Archives of Canada - Membership: Publication Mail No. 40044323 Details and subscription information are on our website. Website: Subscriptions can be paid online. www.birdprotectionquebec.org Membership Secretary - On-line discussion group: Christine Burt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Songsparrow

20 BPQ Birding Calendar to March 2012 Full details are on our website at www.birdprotectionquebec.org

December 17 : Montreal Christmas Bird Count December 27 : Hudson Christmas Bird Count

Monthly Meeting and Lecture Monday 9 January International Birding : Australia in October Field trip Saturday 11 February -samedi 11 février Field Trip Chateauguay, Rue Higgins & Sainte-Catherine Récré-O-Parc Saturday 14 January - samedi 14 janvier Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse Field trip BIRD PROTECTION QUEBEC Saturday 18 February - samedi 18 février Field trip Sainte-Marthe, Saint-Clet, Sainte-Justine Saturday 21 January – samedi 21 janvier South Shore Driving Trip Winter lecture series February 22, 7:30pm Field trip “Rise and Shine, it’s Dark Outside!” Saturday 28 January - samedi 28 janvier The secret lives of Whip-poor-wills and Common Nighthawks Montreal Botanical Garden - Jardin Botanique De Montréal Gregory Rand

Field trip Winter lecture series Saturday 4 February - samedi 4 février March 7, 8:00pm Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies “Let’s Enjoy Our Ducks” Tips to identify North American Waterfowl Monthly Meeting and Lecture Rodger Titman Monday February 6 - speaker to be announced Winter lecture series Winter lecture series March 21, 7:30pm February 8, 7:30pm “The Early Bird Gets the … Grub” “A Drift of Buntings” The intricate lives of birds and insects; co-evolution An overview of the Snow Bunting and adaptation Simon Duval and Gay McDougall Gruner Chris Cloutier

21 Print a copy of this page for your refrigerator door