Volume 53 Number 1 August 2010 The Ottawa Valley: Newly Protected Areas in the Province of Quebec With Joël Bonin Monday, October 4, 2010, 7:30 PM We start a new fall season with a well-known friend of Clarendon and Fort William. An update on the Breckenridge BPQ and a subject dear to our hearts. The Nature Conservancy program will also be on the agenda. Volunteers from the of Canada has been active in acquiring Outaouais birdwatching club are monitoring new natural sites along the Ottawa River se veral of these sites and you are invited to over the past 10 years. Some BPQ join forces with them to increase our members are familiar with Breckenridge, knowledge of these new sanctuaries. a 600-acre farm and woodland facing the Joël Bonin is an ecologist and river where the Loggerhead Shrike herpetologist (salamanders). His first recovery program was undertaken in mandate with NCC was in 1989 in Covey early 2000 with assistance from our Hill while completing a Master’s degree Society. Half a dozen sites have been with Roger Bider from McGill University. added since then, with recent field work He helped out with the management of revealing some of their natural features. the Philipsburg Sanctuary, banded birds The speaker will guide us through the on Île-aux-Basques and has taken part in network of protected areas from Gatineau/Ottawa up to Fort the Mount Royal bird count, among other things. Land William. We will discover the Kettle Island swamp forest, the protection is his passion and he will share it with any others alvars open flat rock habitat in Aylmer, the Quyon and Brystol who want to preserve the natural world for the future. shorelines, as well as the forest stands at Grand Marais, Gail Desnoyers

Fall Migration Monitoring at MBO The seventh fall season is now underway at the McGill Bird We were lucky to reach our 200th species last spring, Observatory (MBO). Banding and daily censuses began on with a beautiful Great Egret found hiding amongst the reeds August 1 and will run until October 30. Volunteers are in the back pond. What surprises will this season hold? As of needed to fill the many roles that are essential to the operation June 5, 2010, a total of 24,260 birds of 105 species have been of the station: observers, net assistants, lane maintenance, banded at the MBO. With these kinds of numbers, it’s no scribes and banders. If you like walking in the morning, keeping surprise that we’re continually finding new species, plumages company with nature enthusiasts and observing birds in the and other wonders of nature on-site or in our nets. Please join bush and in the hand, then MBO is the place for you! Visit us for one morning or many, and we guarantee you’ll learn, www.migrationresearch.org/mbo.html for more information. appreciate and enjoy birds like never before. Gay Gruner Table of Contents President’s Message...... 2 Monthly Meetings...... 5 Birdviews...... 8-10 Membership News...... 3-4 Le monde des oiseaux et des chats...5-6 BirdWord...... 10 Award Committee Report...... 4 Ruffling Feathers...... 7 Field Trip Diaries...... 11-13 Attention All Wannabe Editors!...... 4 From the Desk of a Young Birder...... 7 Île Verte Diary...... 13 Speaker’s Corner ...... 5 COAQ is Coming!...... 7 Upcoming Field Trips...... 14-16 Message From Our President Bird Protection Quebec

It was heartening to see such good attendance at the May AGM by our membership. This AGM was special because Richard Gregson presented and explained the proposed changes to BPQ’s bylaws. Richard chaired the committee which oversaw the bylaw renewal process. He received strong assistance from Marie-Hélène Gauthier and other committee members. Richard and his committee did an outstanding job . I thank them wholeheartedly for a job well done! The new bylaws, which were Education Conservation Observation approved by the membership, include some radical changes which now bring us into Bird Protection Quebec is the operational complete conformity with Quebec laws. Key changes include the fact that Board name of The Province of Quebec So ciety for members will now be elected at the AGM for two years, renewable for up to 10 years, the Protection of Birds. at which point they will have to stand down for one year. Previously, the maximum Established January 4, 1917 service period was nine years, with three consecutive three-year terms. As well, the new Board will elect its officers at the first Board meeting rather than having them be Officers elected by the membership at the AGM. President Jeff Harrison After the passing of our new bylaws, our AGM followed its usual routine which Vice-Presidents Richard Gregson Marie-Hélène Gauthier included the Treasurer’s and President’s reports, the election of new directors, and the Hon. Vice-Presidents Robert Carswell presentation of our awards. Our Treasurer, Jean Harwood Gregson, presented a very Felix Hilton positive report as our finances are improving with the apparent market Mabel McIntosh recovery. I had a great deal of trouble cutting my report down to something Peter Mitchell manageable! For an all-volunteer organization, we accomplished a great deal over the Treasurer Jean Gregson Secretary Jean Bacon last year. A full account will be available in the next tch ébec . It is always a pleasure to Membership Secretary Sharon Veysey hand out the awards, many of which are discretionary. The committee has been very Website Manager Richard Gregson careful in the selection process to ensure that the awards remain special. Newsletter Editor Marie-Anne Hudson The new members elected to our Board are Nick Acheson, Jean-Emmanuel Arsenault, Jane Cormack, Gail Desnoyers, Barbara Frei, Sarah Marteinson, and Jim Bird Protection Quebec/PQSPB is a registered charity. Murray. They all have strong credentials and most are already involved with BPQ so Registration # 11925 2161 RR0001. I expect, despite losing some key people from our Board, we will continue to function at a high level. All donations are tax deductible. It is always sad to lose people from the Board one has known for a considerable Membership and general inquiries: period. All of them have contributed so much over the years. Leaving the Board this year are past Presidents Eve Marshall and Felix Hilton; 2nd Vice-President Helen Bird Protection Quebec P.O. Box 43, Station B Meredith; our Secretary, Jean Bacon; Membership Chair Averill Craig; and Montreal QC H3B 3J5 Conservation Chair Shawn Craik. At a special Board meeting right after the AGM, the Tel: 514-637-2141 Board appointed Jean as an officer to continue in her role as Secretary. Technically, I also had to stand down because of the adoption of the new bylaws but the new Board Birdviews: Pierre Bannon appointed me to serve out Shawn’s term. It then elected me President to fulfill my [email protected] 514-766-8767 after 7:00 PM two-year commitment. All very complicated but now we are functioning entirely legally! Email group: Averill Craig Over the next year, we have considerable work to do. Our new brochure has http://groups.yahoo.com/ been printed and is terrific, the product of much hard work by Sheldon Harvey, his group/Songsparrow marketing team, and graphics whiz, Jean De Marre. With a strong brochure we will Website: Richard Gregson certainly have a better chance to attract new members. Congruently, we are also www.birdprotectionquebec.org looking to expand public awareness of our existence with a new urban initiative. One [email protected] of the ideas suggested is to discuss a closer working relationship with the Annual Report: Sarah Marteinson operators of the island of Montreal’s most significant parcel of green space: the [email protected] Morgan Arboretum, the McGill Bird Observatory and the Ecomuseum. A first step Newsletter: Marie-Anne Hudson has already taken place with the Board’s acceptance of an offer from the Arboretum [email protected] to hold alternative Board meetings at their Interpretive Centre. More of these initiatives will follow in future reports. The Song Sparrow ISSN 1710-3371 If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Legal Deposit: National Library and Archives of Canada Jeff Harrison , BPQ President Publication Mail No. 40044323 Tel: 514-486-4943, Email: [email protected] Deadline for the next newsletter: September 13, 2010

2 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010 Membership News The Unveiling of a New Site Le dévoilement d’un nouveau site

The pace of change in the way we reach out to our members Le rythme du changement dans la façon de communiquer avec and the general birding public constantly tries to run away nos membres et le grand public ne cesse d’évoluer mais cette from us, but this time we think we have finally got it fois nous pensons finalement avoir véritablement réussi à être nailed. By now most of you will have visited the latest à jour. La plupart d’entre vous avez d’ores et déjà visité la iteration of our website and discovered the new features it nouvelle version de notre site Web et avez découvert les offers. First of all, and most importantly, virtually the whole nouvelles fonctionnalités qu’il offre. Tout d’abord, le site site is now available in both French and English – it is internet est presque entièrement disponible en français et en important that we are able to speak to and for all birders in anglais. La possibilité de communiquer avec tous les Quebec and that they can find the information about us and ornithologues amateurs du Québec est primordiale et ce our charitable endeavours, the sanctuaries we own and the nouveau site nous permet de le faire. Les ornithologues support we offer to researchers and various bird study québécois pourront dorénavant trouver dans les deux langues projects in both languages. de l’information sur notre club, nos œuvres de charité, nos You may have seen the new Community section – by sanctuaires, le soutien que nous apportons aux chercheurs et registering on those pages you will have a means to interact aux différents projets d’étude d’oiseaux. directly with other birders, to share your ideas, observation Vous avez peut-être déjà eu la chance de visiter notre and comments and, if you are a photographer, to create your nouvelle section « Communauté ». Vous pouvez vous y own on-line web picture gallery of birds, all free of charge. inscrire et aurez ainsi l’opportunité de communiquer In general, however, the website is there, as it always directement avec d’autres ornithologues amateurs, de partager has been, to enable everyone to learn about what BPQ does vos idées, vos observations et vos commentaires. Si la and to be a go-to source for the information birders want on photographie vous passionne, vous pourrez créer vos propres a regular basis including a calendar of activities, details of albums photos d’oiseaux sur le site même et cela gratuitement. forthcoming field trips and lectures, special events, Toutes ces nouveautés contribuent à assurer que le site suggested places to go birding and the addresses of stores pourra, comme il l’a toujours fait, renseigner toute personne that sell birding equipment. It is brighter, cleaner and easier intéressé par POQ, et servir de référence pour les to navigate. We sincerely hope that we will not have to go ornithologues amateurs qui désirent être informés sur une through the lengthy pains of rebuilding it again for many base régulière. Ils y trouveront un calendrier d’activités, des years to come! détails sur les excursions à venir, nos conférences, les Richard Gregson , Webmaster événements spéciaux, les sites d’observation d’oiseaux et l’adresse des magasins qui vendent de l’équipement ornithologiqu e. Ce nouveau site est maintenant plus simple et il y est plus facile d’y naviguer. Richard Gregson , Webmaster

We wish you very good e-birding at www.birdprotectionquebec.org Nous souhaitons sincèrement que vous y ferez de belles découvertes ornithologiques en ligne !

Welcome New Members! Membership Renewals Greetings to new members Jean-Emmanuel Arsenault, Membership renewals for 2010-2011 will be in the mail shortly. Montréal; Nicole Bernier, Île-des-Soeurs; Lindsay D’Aoust, Thanks to those members who renew prior to October 1 which Hudson Heights; Yolande Drouin, Montréal-Nord; Barbara saves us postage, paper, and time in sending out reminders. Drury, Westmount; Jane Eaves Gabos, St-Laurent; and Mia Renewal is also a good opportunity to update your member Massicotte, Montreal West. We hope you will join us on our profile. Bird Protection Quebec relies solely on volunteers to field trips and at our monthly meetings. carry out its numerous functions and you can help! Please take Sharon Veysey an extra moment to check off the categories that interest you. Volunteering will enrich your appreciation of BPQ and it is lots of fun too! Sharon Veysey

Vol. 53 No. 1 Bird Protection Quebec 3 Membership News

Education Update 3 Thursday's Thrushes and Thrashers field trips attracted new birders to Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard Nature Park and the Morgan Arboretum. 3 Doris Miller's class from John Abbott College enjoyed the trilliums while looking for Red-shouldered Hawks in the L'Anse-à-l'Orme woods on May 3, 2010. 3 Mme. Laliberté's grade 3-4 class from École St. Rémi enjoyed birding at the Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard Nature Park with the help of Marie-Hélène Gauthier and several members of BPQ's Education Committee. A Bald Eagle flying overhead was one of the morning’s highlights. Thanks to David Mulholland, Clémence Soulard, Christine Burt, Marie-Hélène Gauthier, Chris Murphy, Wayne Grubert, Sylvia Wees, Felix Hilton, Gay Gruner, Jean Demers and Barbara MacDuff. Barbara MacDuff

Awards Committee Report As an all-volunteer club, we are entirely dependent on the contributions of our members. Each year we recognize outstanding achievement through our annual member of the year, service and long-term service awards. We also recognize contributions to education and conservation through a series of discretionary awards. For the 2009-2010 year, the following awards were handed out at our Annual General Meeting on May 31, 2010: Member of the Year : Diane Demers Long-Term Service Awards : Service Award: Sophie Cauchon & André Pelletier Sylvia Wees Member Education Award: Peter Mitchell Pierre Bannon Member Conservation Award : Rodger Titman Betsy McFarlane Quebec Education Award : Eve Bélisle Mabel McIntosh Quebec Conservation Award : Jean Gauthier & Yves Aubry Bob Barnhurst All the award winners were in attendance to receive their awards. In addition to a letter from the President, which contained the citation, the winners received a number of small gifts and a framed certificate beautifully designed by Gay Gruner. Details of the citations are available on our website at www.pqspb.org/bpq under “Service Awards” listed under the “About BPQ” tab. We encourage you to have a look so that you can fully understand how hard BPQ’s volunteers work to further our mission. Make sure to check back often as we will be adding previous years’ citations retroactively over the next year or so. Jeff Harrison , Chair of the Awards Committee Wayne Grubert David Mulholland Attention All Wannabe Editors!

It is with sadness that I must signal my upcoming resignation as Editor of The Song Sparrow. This edition comes at the beginning of my third year as Editor and I have enjoyed it immensely, but I feel it’s time for me to move on -- literally! A job opportunity means I have to change province, which requires my giving up this great volunteer position. I encourage anyone who is the least bit curious about the inner workings of The Song Sparrow to please contact me at [email protected] so that we can chat about it. I will of course be willing to work with the new Editor over the next few issues. The Editor-to-be should be atten - tive to details, organized and eager to reach out and solicit new material. Fear not -- you will not be alone! Our crack team of BPQ proofers will be at your side to assist with each and every issue. Marie-Anne Hudson

4 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010 Speaker’s Corner The Great Diversity of Birds in the Neotropics With Jean-Philippe Gagnon Monday, November 1, 2010, 7:30 PM You may have heard about tanagers, parrots and Jean-Philippe Gagnon is the Tropical Bird keeper at the hummingbirds but what about manakins, antbirds or cotingas? Biodôme de Montréal, where he has been working for 14 Tropical birds amaze with their colourful plumage, extravagant years. He holds a BA in Biology and is currently working on behaviour and fascinating ecology. Many of you have his MA in Behavioural Ecology with his thesis discovered them through your travels, by looking through on “Cooperative breeding in the Green Aracari.” He has given field guides or just dreaming about being in their presence. many presentations to bird clubs and guided birdwatching The presentation will focus on tropical birds’ distribution, to urs to Peru for Explorateur Voyage. You may even have seen ec ology and behaviour, using many species as examples of the him on the Radio-Canada TV show 1-888-oiseaux. Don ’t miss it! great diversity encountered in the neotropics. Geographically, Gail Desnoyers we will concentrate on the birds of South and Central America, Peru, Costa Rica and Bolivia in particular. Come and join us to learn more from someone who has been there and done that! Monthly Meetings 2010-2011 Meetings are held at 7:30 pm at Knox Crescent Kensington and First Presbyterian Church, 6225 Godfrey Avenue, NDG (between Grand Boulevard & Kensington Ave, 1.5 blocks north of Sherbrooke, bus #105). Meeting dates: Mondays , October 4 , November 1 , December 6 , 2010 and January 10 , February 7 , March 7 , April 4 , May 30, 2011 (AGM) BPQ would like to thank Benoît Laliberté for introducing us to the Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas at the April monthly meeting. It was instructive as well as inspiring and we hope to have him back soon so that we can be up on all the results! We regret that a full account cannot be provided at this time.

Le monde des oiseaux et des chats La photo suivante a été prise à St-Zénon. Après avoir entendu buse, Petit-duc maculé, Chouette rayée, Hiboux des marais et un bruit à l’extérieur de la maison, Johanne Charette a regardé Hiboux moyen-duc. Notre Grand-duc de St-Zénon semble par la fenêtre pour voir ce qui s’était passé. À sa avoir un penchant pour les chats. grande surprise, un Grand-duc d’Amérique Malheureusement pour les oiseaux, au venait d’attraper un chat du voisinage niveau de la prédation, la balance penche directement sur sa galerie. Elle a eu la chance complètement en faveur des chats. Les oiseaux de prendre cette photo en ouvrant la porte. font face à de nombreux prédateurs tant en Suite à la prise de photo, le Grand-duc s’est milieu urbain que rural. Selon plusieurs envolé avec le chat dans ses serres. études scientifiques, le chat est sans équivoque Le Grand-duc d’Amérique se nourrit à le prédateur le plus important. 90 % de petits mammifères tel que lièvres, Selon une étude au Michigan, un chat marmottes, moufettes, porcs-épics, souris, rats, domestique a rapporté 1 600 petits rongeurs et écureuils, chauves-souris et, de temps en 60 oiseaux en 18 mois. C’est assez pour remplir temps, les chats domestiques. Le reste de sa 3 grosses poubelles! diète (10 %) se constitue d’oiseaux tel que les Suite à une étude en milieu rural au canards, huards, Grand Héron, perdrix, Wisconsin, Stan Temple et John Coleman ont pigeons, corneilles, étourneaux, et même Johanne Charette estimé que 1,2 millions de chats tuent en d’autres oiseaux de proies tel que l’Autour des moyenne 400 millions d’animaux par année palombes, Balbuzard pêcheur, Buse à queue rousse, Petite dont 7,8 millions d’oiseaux. Les espèces rurales les plus

Vol. 53 No. 1 Bird Protection Quebec 5 Le monde des oiseaux et des chats... continué

vulnérables sont le Goglu des prés, la Sturnelle des prés et les aux États-Unis. bruants (des espèces qui nichent au sol). Selon cette étude, les X N’abandonnez jamais un chat à l’extérieur. Trouvez-lui une chats mangent en moyenne 62 % des oiseaux qu’ils capturent. famille ou emmener-le à la SPCA où il pourra être adopté. Une étude britannique (Churcher and Lawson) a démontré que 30 % de la mortalité des moineaux est causée X Ne nourrissez pas les chats errants. par les chats et que ces derniers sont responsables de la mort X Mettre une cloche au cou de votre chat est inutile. Plusieurs de 70 millions d’animaux, dont 20 millions d’oiseaux par année études ont démontré que cette solution est inefficace et ne en Angleterre. réduit pas la prédation par les chats. Au Canada, le biologiste de la faune Bob Bancroft a estimé que 5 millions de chats tuent annuellement de 40 à 70 X Ne placez pas vos mangeoires près d’un endroit où les chats millions d’oiseaux. Pendant le projet FeederWatch en errants peuvent se cacher en embuscade. Amérique du Nord, le tiers des incidents rapportés aux Alain Goulet mangeoires implique les chats. Seul l’Épervier brun devance les chats en termes de prédation. The World of Birds and Cats -- A Synopsis

One memorable night, Johanne Charette rushed to the window of her home in St-Zénon to investigate a noise outside and to her astonishment found herself staring right into the eyes of a Great Horned Owl. The owl, obviously in search of a meal, had swooped down and captured a neighbourhood cat right on her deck. Carefully opening the door, Johanne man - aged to snap this exceptional image of bird and prey before the owl flew off with the cat firmly in its grip. Although our St- Zénon Great Horned Owl seems to have a penchant for Felis silvestris catu s, the predator-prey pendulu m swings completely Richard Dupuis in favour of cats. Birds must contend with a great number of predators Quelques statistiques selon des estimations conservatrices : both in urban and in rural areas. According to several scientific studies, the cat is without question their primary predator. In X 2 trillions d’oiseaux sont tués par les chats, par année à Canada, Bob Bancroft, wildlife biologist, estimates that 5 travers le monde entier. million cats kill 40 to 70 million birds a year. X 126 millions d’oiseaux sont tués par les chats, par année en What can you do? Amérique du Nord. X Keep cats indoors, particularly when birds are most X Le chat est le prédateur principal des oiseaux en Amérique vulnerable (May-August). Free-roaming cats are also exposed du Nord. to injury, disease, parasites, and Great Horned Owls, and are X Les chats rapportent en moyenne la moitié de leurs proies prone to being hit by cars or becoming lost or stolen. à la maison. X Spay or neuter your cats before they can produce an X Le taux de prédation des oiseaux est plus élevé en mai, juin un-wanted litter. Records indicate that 35,000 kittens are born et juillet. each day in the U.S. alone.

À noter : Je n’ai rien contre les chats! Au contraire, j’ai grandit X Never abandon cats you cannot care for. Instead, find them avec des chats à la maison et nos deux derniers chats sont new homes or take them to an animal shelter where they can décédés en 2008 à l’âge de 20 ans. Ces chats n’allaient presque be adopted. jamais dehors et n’ont jamais tués d’animaux sauvages. X Do not feed stray and feral cats. Quoi faire: X Cats with bells on their collars do kill birds. Studies have X Gardez vos chats à l’intérieur, surtout lorsque les oiseaux shown that these collars are ineffective in preventing cats from sont les plus vulnérables (mai à août). Les chats d’extérieur killing wildlife. sont exposés aux maladies, blessures, parasites, Grands-ducs, X Avoid placing feeders near areas where cats can easily hide et aux automobiles et risquent de se perdre. and ambush birds. X Faites opérer votre chat. 35 000 chats naissent chaque jour Alain Goulet

6 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010 Ruffling Feathers -- A New Song Sparrow Series

We, that is to say, the Board of Directors of BPQ, have been always moving forward and evolving, and we can’t think of a worrying and puzzling over the relatively recent issue of better way to continue this fine tradition than to encourage declining membership and dwindling member participation. you to join up and lend us your fresh ideas and perspectives. We’ve b een throwing ideas back and forth and realized that we Some of you may believe that the Board is a closed circle, a are but 25 people (give or take) appointed by the membership tight-knit group of people who salute each other with secret at large. Sure, these 25 people are wonderfully creative, handshakes and squawks, but this isn’t at all the case. We are motivated and of course handsome to a fault, but we’ve always on the lookout for new folks to join up, whether it’s on reached the point where we would like to hear from you, the Board or one of our 20 committees. That’s right, 20 commit - BPQ’s faithful members. Thus, in order to make this as tees, each one drooling over the prospect of having new effortless and fun as possible, we’ve decided to create a people join their ranks to help them Educate, Conserve and of membership column. course, Observe. There are so many worthy projects and areas The point of this column will be twofold: to allow you, deserving our attention, but we can’t accomplish close to our the reader, to: 1) propose ideas or topics of discussion with the potential without the involvement of you, our faithful intention that they then be discussed openly on the members and bird-lovers. So raise your binoculars, yell out Songsparrow Yahoo group or in the new e-community “Hurray!” and then sit down in front of your computer and discussion board (with a promise that ideas floated there email one of our committee chairs to get involved. And don’t WILL be considered by the Board should they be warranted); worry - it’s only as much “work” as you choose/want it to be. and 2) learn about what BPQ’s many committees are up to. Please send an email to [email protected] or Each issue will bring forth a new topic for discussion — call the BPQ hotline (514) 637-2141 if you want to join a provided you send in your ideas, rants, and worries — as well committee, and/or send me an email with your topic of as a short report on the activities of one of the committees. discussion. Don’t delay! Marie-Anne Hudson The only way that BPQ has attained 93 years of age is by Communications Committee Chair and Editor

From the Desk of a Young Birder -- Owls are Beautiful Owls are beautiful, fascinating birds. Some are denizens of the winter, but there are several other species of owl commonly forests, living mostly in secrecy and solitude, only active seen there as well, namely Northern Saw-whet, Long-eared, during the darkest hours. Especially secretive is the Boreal Short-eared, Barred and Snowy Owls. Owl. True to its name, it lives in the vast boreal forests of the I was lucky in Febuary not just to glimpse this fascinating Canadian Shield. They only rarely come in small numbers to creature at Amherst, but to see it still and up close. I’ve always the Montreal area in search of food. They’ve been seen at the been intrigued by these owls, and they are my favourite bird. Morgan Arboretum, Nuns ’ Island and Longueuil. When I saw it, the owl was perched on a branch only a few feet The Boreal Owl is small, similar to a Northern Saw-whet up on a Jack Pine. Unaware of our presence, it sat with its eyes Owl in appearance. The only striking difference is that it has a closed, very still. It looked like a small ball of fur. Soon it white facial disk bordered with black and a darker upper opened its eyes and slowly turned its head. The sight of that body. It preys mostly on small rodents, such as mice, voles, Boreal Owl was one that I will always remember. shrews, lemmings, and moles, as well as insects. When food It was a thrill to have a chance of seeing this rare visitor becomes scarce, it may retreat and visit more southerly from the north, but if they are to continue flying on silent regions in search of prey. wings, we must protect the boreal forests where they live. One of the best places to catch a glimpse of this bird is on They are one of the many birds that symbolize the great Amherst Island, near Kingston, Ontario. There, at a place Canadian wilderness. Thanks to Alain, Andy and Mark for called Owl Woods, one can walk the trails and have a good inviting me to Amherst in search of this rare bird. look (from a reasonable distance of course) at the owls roost - Jeremy Pauzé ing in the trees. The Boreal Owl is usually spotted every COAQ is Coming! Online registration is now open for COAQ (Congrès des ornithologues amateurs du Québec)! With over 20 presentations focusing on bird-watching, bird protection and habitat conservation (one of which will be given by a member of BPQ detailing our remarkable sanctuaries); a photo exhibit; and an information booth headed up by BPQ members, this year’s COAQ will be the best yet. When: September 11, 2010 (registration deadline August 20, 2010) Location : Hôtel Le Victorin, 19, boul. Arthabaska Est, Victoriaville, Quebec Tel: 1 877 845-5344; Web: Click HERE to register online, or visit www.quebecoiseaux.org

Vol. 53 No. 1 Bird Protection Quebec 7 Parlons d’oiseaux Birdviews Bilan des observations intéressantes à travers la province Summary of interesting sightings from around the province par Pierre Bannon by Pierre Bannon Communiquez vos observations intéressantes à: Please report your interesting bird observations to: Pierre Bannon, 1517 Leprohon, Montréal, QC, H4E 1P1. Tel: 514-766-8767 en soirée/after 7:00 pm. Courriel: [email protected]

Mars-mai 2010 March-May 2010 Oie à bec court: une à Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu 27-30 Pink-footed Goose: one at Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu mars (R. Belhumeur, R. Chartier, pl. ob.). Oie rieuse: un groupe 27-30 March (R. Belhumeur, R. Chartier, m. ob.). Greater de plus de 25 indiv. à Montbrun, Abitibi, 27 avril (L. Farrell), White-fronted Goose: Montbrun, Abitibi , hosted a group of mais l’espèce fut moins souvent signalée qu’au printemps 2009 over 25 indiv. 27 April (L. Farrell), but they were less numerous ailleurs dans la province. Bernache nonnette: une à Baie-du- elsewhere in the province than in spring 2009. Barnacle Goose: Febvre 21-25 mars (JM. Hébert, P. Lamontagne). Cygne trom - one at Baie-du-Febvre 21-25 March (JM. Hébert, P. pette: un à Fabre 19 avril-3 mai ( fide J. Fréchette). Cygne sif - Lamontagne). Trumpeter Swan: one at Fabre 19 April-3 May fleur: 7 à Plaisance 25-31 mars (R. Schreyer), 2 à Baie-du-Febvre (fide J. Fréchette). Tundra Swan: 7 at Plaisance 25-31 March (R. 27 mars (F. Lachance et al.), et 3 à Saint-Majorique 28 avril (J. Schreyer), 2 at Baie-du-Febvre 27 March (F. Lachance et al.), Lehoux). Canard siffleur: 5 indiv. signalés. Fuligule morillon: and 3 at Saint-Majorique 28 April (J. Lehoux). Eurasian un à Ragueneau 28 avril-14 mai (D. Saint-Laurent et al.). Wigeon: 5 birds reported. Tufted Duck: one at Ragueneau 28 Arlequin plongeur: 170 indiv. entre Cap-des-Rosiers et Cap April-14 May (D. Saint-Laurent et al.). Harlequin Duck: 170 Gaspé 18 mai (S. Marchand). Érismature rousse: 2 à Chandler indiv. between Cap-des-Rosiers and Cap Gaspé 18 May (S. 17 mai, rare en Gaspésie (A. Saint-Jean, J. Côté). Dindon sauva - Marchand). Ruddy Duck: 2 at Chandler 17 May, rare on the ge: un à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 14 avril, apparemment le pre - Gaspé Pen. (A. Saint-Jean, J. Côté). Wild Turkey: one at Sainte- mier sur l’Île des Montréal (ph. D. Miller). Plongeon catmarin: Anne-de-Bellevue 14 April, was apparently a first record for un total incroyable de 4052 dénombrés en 3 heures à Rivière- the island of Montreal (ph. D. Miller). Red-throated Loon: an Ouelle 22 mai (C. Girard, C. Auchu). Grande Aigrette: 2 incredible total of 4052 in 3 hours at Rivière-Ouelle 22 May (C. couples à Chandler 26 mai (P. Poulin). Aigrette neigeuse: des Girard, C. Auchu). Great Egret: 2 pairs at Chandler 26 May (P. indiv. près de Sainte-Martine 2 mai (D. Fraser), et à Orford 3 mai Poulin). Snowy Egret: singles near Sainte-Martine 2 May (D. (Y. Charette, fide J. Turgeon). Aigrette bleue: 2 oiseaux à Fraser), and at Orford 3 May (Y. Charette, fide J. Turgeon). Little Châteauguay 16 mai (ph., JP. Labrèche, C. Archambault). Héron Blue Heron: 2 birds at Châteauguay 16 May (ph., JP. Labrèche, garde-boeufs: des indiv. à Saint-Barthélemy 6 avril, une date C. Archambault). Cattle Egret: singles at Saint-Barthélemy 6 hâtive record (ph., AF. Quesnel, J. Demarre), à Lachenaie 3 mai April, a record early date (ph., AF. Quesnel, J. De Marre), at (J. Chatigny), et à l’Île d’Orléans 7 mai (Mme. Paquette). Ibis fal - Lachenaie 3 May (J. Chatigny), and at Île d’Orléans 7 May cinelle: un à Saint-Blaise 24 avril (S. Vanier, G. Éthier), 6 à (Mrs. Paquette). Glossy Ibis: one at Saint-Blaise 24 April (S. Brigham 9 mai (M. Rousseau, fide B. Hamel), 2 à Dundee 22 mai Vanier, G. Éthier), 6 at Brigham 9 May (M. Rousseau, fide B. (M. Crête, M. Hamelin) et un à Montbeillard, Abitibi, 22 mai (J. Hamel), 2 at Dundee 22 May (M. Crête, M. Hamelin), and one Racicot). at Montbeillard, Abitibi, 22 May (J. Racicot). Urubu noir: un à Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka 20 mars, égali - Black Vulture: one at Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka 20 March, sant la date du 20 mars 1932 à Beauport (B. Barnhurst, M. matching the early date of 20 March 1932 at Beauport (B. McIntosh). Urubu à tête rouge: nombre en croissance en Barnhurst, M. McIntosh). Turkey Vulture: numbers increasing Gaspésie avec 9 présences entre 14 avril et 23 mai ( fide P. Poulin). in the Gaspé Pen., with 9 sightings between 14 April and 23 Pygargue à tête blanche: 149 indiv. à la station de Valleyfield, May ( fide P. Poulin). Bald Eagle: 149 indiv. at the Valleyfield un nouveau max pour le printemps (B. Barnhurst, M. hawkwatch, a new high for this locality in spring (B. Barnhurst, McIntosh). Un couple à niche à l’Île aux Hérons, à moins de 10 M. McIntosh). A pair nested on Heron Is., less than 10 km from km du centre-ville de Montréal (P. Bannon, JC. Sorel, pl. ob.). downtown Montréal (P. Bannon, JC. Sorel, m. ob.). Golden Aigle royal: 90 indiv. à la station de Valleyfield, un nouveau Eagle: 90 indiv. at the Valleyfield hawkwatch, a new high for max printanier (B. Barnhurst, M. McIntosh). spring (B. Barnhurst, M. McIntosh). Grue du Canada: des oiseaux sont arrivés à Dundee 18 Sandhill Crane: birds arrived at Dundee 18 March, a new mars, une date record (D. Gagnon), et ont niché avec succès record early date (D. Gagnon), and successfully nested there pour la 4ième année, produisant 2 jeunes observés le 11 mai (T. for a 4th year, with 2 offspring seen on the early date of 11 May Long, S. Vanier). Deux oiseaux étaient à Bonaventure en (T. Long, S. Vanier). Two birds appeared again at Bonaventure, Gaspésie 26-28 avril pour une 3ième année (S. Arbour). Pluvier Gaspésie, 26-28 April for the 3rd year (S. Arbour). American bronzé: un oiseau perché sur la glace a été photographié à Golden-Plover: a bird was photographed perched on ice at Bridgeville 2 avril, une date record (ph., MA. Dupont). Bridgeville 2 April, a new record early date (ph., MA. Dupont). Chevalier semipalmé: un à Cap-des-Rosiers 23 mai (D. Jalbert). Willet: one at Cap-des-Rosiers 23 May (D. Jalbert). Ruff: one at Combattant varié: un à Saint-Blaise 22 avril-1er mai (M. Saint-Blaise 22 April-1 May (M. Arnaudin, SJ. Hills, m. ob.). Arnaudin, SJ. Hills, pl. ob.). Bécassin roux: 300 indiv. à Short-billed Dowitcher: 300 indiv. at Coaticook 26 May, a high

8 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010 Coaticook 26 mai, un nombre élevé (J. Massé). Phalarope de number (J. Massé). Wilson’s Phalarope: one at Baskatong Res. Wilson: un au réservoir Baskatong. 17 mai (MA. Montpetit). 17 May (MA. Montpetit). Mouette blanche: un adulte à Lévis 6-11 mars, accompa - Ivory Gull: an adult at Lévis 6-11 March, accompanied by gné par un immature 8-10 mars (G. Lemelin, pl. ob.). Mouette an immature 8-10 March (G. Lemelin, m. ob.). Sabine’s Gull: an de Sabine: un adulte à Tadoussac 29 mai (R. Pintiaux). adult at Tadoussac 29 May (R. Pintiaux). Black-headed Gull: Mouette rieuse: 35 à Grosse-Île 12 mai, un nombre record pour 35 at Grosse-Île 12 May represented a new spring high count le printemps (A. Richard). Mouette atricille: un oiseau de 1er (A. Richard). Laughing Gull: a first summer bird at Rivière- été à Rivière-Ouelle 16 mai (C. Auchu, C. Girard), et un adulte Ouelle 16 May (C. Auchu, C. Girard), and an adult at La à La Malbaie 31 mai (P. Otis, F. Lachance). Goéland argenté X Malbaie 31 May (P. Otis, F. Lachance). Herring Gull X Lesser Goéland brun: une excellente description fut obtenue pour cet Black-backed Gull: an excellent description was obtained for hybride présent à St-Barthélemy 8 avril (O. Barden, S. Rioux). this hybrid seen at St-Barthélemy 8 April (O. Barden, S. Rioux). Labbe à longue queue: un à Tadoussac 24 mai (R. Pintiaux, C. Long-tailed Jaeger: one at Tadoussac 24 May (R. Pintiaux, C. Saint-Hilaire). Saint-Hilaire). Coulicou à bec jaune: au moins 4 oiseaux signalés en mai. Yellow-billed Cuckoo: at least 4 birds reported in May. Chouette lapone: un nid trouvé à Canton Gaudet, Abitibi , 16 Great Gray Owl: a nest was found at Canton Gaudet, Abitibi , mai (D. Fauteux, G. Brochu). Nyctale de Tengmalm: 4 nichoirs 16 May (D. Fauteux, G. Brochu). Boreal Owl: 4 nesting boxes étaient occupés en Abitibi ce printemps (J. Gagnon, M. Séguy). were occupied by pairs in Abitibi this spring (J. Gagnon, M. Pic à tête rouge: un à l’Île Bizard 7 mai (J. Feizo). Pic à ventre Séguy). Red-headed Woodpecker: one at Île Bizard 7 May (J. roux: 5 oiseaux signalés, incluant un à Sept-Îles 30 mai (J. Feizo). Red-bellied Woodpecker: 5 birds seen, including one at Vaillancourt). Sept-Îles 30 May (J. Vaillancourt). Viréo aux yeux blancs: de plus en plus fréquent au prin - White-eyed Vireo: increasingly reported in spring: singles temps: des indiv. à Saint-Hyacinthe 22-23 avril, une date record were at Saint-Hyacinthe 22-23 April, a record early date (D. & (D & R. Roy), à Québec 6-15 mai (I. Deschênes, C. Vallières) et à R. Roy), at Quebec City 6-15 May (I. Deschênes, C. Vallières) Rimouski 17 mai (C. Douville). Hirondelle rustique: une vue and at Rimouski 17 May (C. Douville). Barn Swallow: one seen en vol à Dundee 18 mars, une date record (P. Laniel). at Dundee 18 March, a record early date (P. Laniel). Carolina Troglodyte de Caroline: présent en nombre au-dessus de la Wren: seen in above average numbers with up to nearly a normale, avec près d’une douzaine dans le Haut-Richelieu (M. dozen in the Upper Richelieu valley (M. Gauthier, D. Ouellette). Gauthier, D. Ouellette). Troglodyte familier: un vu à House Wren: one seen at Matapédia 17-20 May, the second Matapédia 17-20 mai, une 2ième présence en Gaspésie (C. Pitre, record for the Gaspé Pen. (C. Pitre, G. Gallant). Marsh Wren: a G. Gallant). Troglodyte des marais: des oiseaux déjà présents à few birds were already present at Sabrevois 13 April, a new Sabrevois 13 avril, une date record (G. Éthier, M. Gauthier). record early date (G. Éthier, M. Gauthier). Blue-gray Gobemoucheron gris-bleu: un à Val d’Espoir 23-25 mai (G. Gnatcatcher: one at Val d’Espoir 23-25 May (G. Roussy, C. Roussy, C. Bourget). Bourget). Paruline à ailes bleues: outre les oiseaux trouvés à des Blue-winged Warbler: apart from birds reported at sites de nidification connus, des migrateurs sont apparus à known breeding sites, singles were also seen at Châteauguay 13 Châteauguay 13 mai (P. Geoffrion), et à Neuville 14-18 mai (R. May (P. Geoffrion), and at Neuville 14-18 May (R. & F. Dion). & F. Dion). Paruline à gorge jaune: une à Chandler 4 mai, une Yellow-throated Warbler: one at Chandler 4 May, a new record date record et la seconde présence en Gaspésie (JR. Lepage). early date and a second record for the Gaspé Pen. (JR. Lepage). Paruline orangée: une vue à l’Île des Soeurs 23 mai (ph., P. Prothonotary Warbler: one seen at Nuns’ Island 23 May (ph., P. Bannon, pl. ob.), et une entendue à Cap Tourmente 25 mai (Y. Bannon, m. ob.), and one heard at Cap Tourmente 25 May (Y. Hamel). Paruline vermivore: une à Cap Tourmente 15-16 mai Hamel). Worm-eating Warbler: one at Cap Tourmente 15-16 (D. Campeau, ph., C. Arsenault et P. Trépanier). Paruline du May (D. Campeau, ph., C. Arsenault and P. Trépanier). Kentucky: des indiv. à Châteauguay 17 mai (M. Ouellet, J. & M. Kentucky Warbler: singles at Châteauguay 17 May (M. Gauthier) et à Cap Tourmente 19 mai. Paruline à gorge grise: Ouellet, J. & M. Gauthier) and at Cap Tourmente 19 May. un mâle chanteur à l’Île des Soeurs 23 mai (P. Bannon). Paruline Connecticut Warbler: a male singing at Nuns’ Island 23 May (P. à capuchon: un mâle au parc Summit, Montréal, 11-12 mai (S. Bannon). Hooded Warbler: a male at Summit Park, Montreal, Wees et al.). Piranga vermillon: une autre bonne récolte pour 11-12 May (S. Wees et al.). Summer Tanager: another good cette espèce. Des indiv. présents à Macamic 5-13 mai (R. Plante), spring harvest for this species. Singles were at Macamic 5-13 à Québec 9 mai (J. Lachance) et au parc du Mont-Royal 17 mai May (R. Plante), at Quebec City 9 May (J. Lachance) and at (C. Robert, M. Faribeau). Mont-Royal Park 17 May (C. Robert, M. Faribeau). Bruant à joues marron: un à Matane 5 mai (J. Durette). Lark Sparrow: one at Matane 5 May (J. Durette). Harris’s Bruant à face noire: des indiv. à Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm 7-8 Sparrow: singles at Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm 7-8 May (P. mai (P. Martin) et à Val d’Or 17-18 mai (C. Sanio, R. Martin) and at Val d’Or 17-18 May (C. Sanio, R. Ladurantaye). Ladurantaye). Passerin indigo: un oiseau très hâtif à Gaspé 9- Indigo Bunting: a very early indiv. at Gaspé 9-10 April (ph., G. 10 avril (ph., G. Mullyn). Carouge à tête jaune: un mâle adulte Mullyn). Yellow-headed Blackbird: an adult male at Sainte- à Sainte-Félicité 20 mai (J. Deschênes). Quiscale de Brewer: une Félicité 20 May (J. Deschênes). Brewer’s Blackbird: a female at femelle à Cap Tourmente 15 mai (C. Simard). Oriole des ver - Cap Tourmente 15 May (C. Simard). Orchard Oriole: single gers: des mâles imm. à l’Île de la Visitation (Montréal) 17 mai (J. imm. males at Île de la Visitation (Montréal) 17 May (J. Coutu), Vol. 53 No. 1 Bird Protection Quebec 9 Coutu), et à Chicoutimi 17 mai (J. Allaire, fide G. Savard). Un and at Chicoutimi 17 May (J. Allaire, fide G. Savard). A nesting couple nicheur à Godmanchester à partir du 26 mai (M. pair was at Godmanchester from 26 May onwards (M. Boisvert, Boisvert, pl. ob.). Oriole de Baltimore: un mâle très hâtif à m. ob.). Baltimore Oriole: a record early bird at Gentilly 10 Gentilly 10 avril (M. Tousignant, fide R. Barbeau). Pinson des April (M. Tousignant, fide R. Barbeau). Chaffinch: again this arbres: à nouveau ce printemps, des échappés probables sont spring, probable escaped birds appeared in the province: one at apparus dans la province: un à Belcourt 9 avril (H. Saint-Pierre) Belcourt 9 April (H. Saint-Pierre) and one at Lac-Supérieur 10- et un autre à Lac-Supérieur 10-11 avril (J. Laporte et V. Girard- 11 April (J. Laporte and V. Girard-Laporte). European Laporte). Chardonneret élégant: au moins 8 oiseaux signalés, Goldfinch: at least 8 indiv. were reported, including birds of the dont des indiv. de la race caniceps à Les Escoumins 14 avril (Y. caniceps subspecies at Les Escoumins 14 April (Y. Demers, fide S. Demers, fide S. Belleau), à La Baie 18-30 avril (M. Tremblay, S. Belleau), at La Baie 18-30 April (M. Tremblay, S. Tremblay) and Tremblay) et à La Doré 23 mai (J. Guay). Roselin de at La Doré 23 May (J. Guay). Desert Finch: a bird was pho - Lichtenstein: un oiseau sans doute échappé ou relâché a été tographed at Grande-Rivière 6-8 April (R. & L. Imbeau), photographié à Grande-Rivière 6-8 avril (R. & L. Imbeau). undoubtedly an escapee.

Long-time BPQ member 2. This teal’s name is and previous contributor that of a Siberian lake. to the newsletter Steve 3. These birds copulate Charlton has agreed on the wing. (after a mix of arm- twisting and charm), to 4. Food occasionally submit a series of birdy eaten by Keas, which crossword puzzles (or infuriates New Zealand BirdWords ) for your sheep farmers. enjoyment. We hope 5. Legend had it that that you will find the this species of water - newest addition to The fowl hatched from Song Sparrow both chal - barnacles, hence were lenging and rewarding, seafood (not meat), and and ask that you let us were therefore able to know if you enjoyed it, be eaten by good whether it was too easy European Catholics on or too hard, etc. Please Fridays (2 words). send all comments to the 6. This endangered Editor, and hold your species numbered only breath for the answers, 23 in 1941 (2 words). which will be in the next 7. Early biographer of newsletter. N.A. birds. Across 9. The Pied-billed Grebe 5. Many twitchers ticked is also known as “___- this accidental diver.” Hirundinidae , which 12. Top of a bird’s head. returned annually to the same 12. Taxonomic division between 25. A group of woodpeckers is 13. One type of ABA list. bridge south of Miami, until it “phylum” and “order.” normally called a “descent”; what group of woodpeckers is 17. A twitcher will call a was killed by a passing car on 14. A breeding Black ______is called a “bushel”? common bird this type of bird. Apr 30, 1992 (2 words). North America’s only all black- 7. The Kiwi is the only bird with plumaged waterfowl. 26. Famous birder (middle 19. Small southwestern dove name). not found at Machu Picchu. nares at the end of this. 15. Scotsman after whom the 8. Type of crow, best distin - scientific name for McGillivray’s 27. Eurasian Coot: Fulica 21. Masked Duck: _____ guished by its voice, endemic to warbler is given. ______. dominica. the eastern seaboard of the 16. This lark is not a true lark. 28. In 1804, Audubon attached 22. Common Montreal-area bay USA. ducks. 18. Genus of waders. a silvered thread to this bird, 10. Genus containing waterfowl. which became the first species 24. The Carolina Wren is the 20. What the columella in a bird 11. The first record of bird-band - to be banded in North America state bird of which Carolina? reacts to. (2 words). ing was a Gray ____, found in 25. Weapon using feathers. 23. The Baillie Birdathon usually 1710 in Germany, banded a few Down runs 24 of these. years earlier in Turkey. 1. British word for “shorebird.” By Steve Charlton 10 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010 Field Trip Diaries

13/03/10 HUDSON , QC Leader: Barbara MacDuff Bird of the Day : Merlin 14 birders 26 species Other Birds of Note : Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird

20/03/10 BOTANICAL GARDENS , M ONTREAL , QC Leader: Guy Zenaitis Cloudy 19 birders 22 species Bird of the Day : Cooper’s Hawk Other Birds of Note : Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing

03/04/10 PARC DES RAPIDES , L ASALLE & V ERDUN WATERFRONT ,QC Leader: David Mulholland Clear, sunny and calm 24 birders 31 species Bird of the Day : Bald Eagle Other Birds of Note : Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Killdeer, N. Flicker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco

10/04/10 BEAUHARNOIS , S T-T IMOTHÉE , S T. L OUIS , M ERCIER , M APLE GROVE , QC Leader: Felix Hilton Overcast, cold and windy 11 birders 28 species Bird of the Day : Peregrine Falcon Other Birds of Note : Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Merlin, Killdeer, Great Horned Owl, Tree Swallow, N. Shoveler, Bufflehead

17/04/10 BAIE -DU -F EBVRE , QC Leaders: Jean Demers & Clémence Soulard Cold, rainy, 4°C 3 birders 19 species Bird of the Day : Snow Goose Other Birds of Note : N. Shoveler, N. Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe

24/04/10 COOPER MARSH , S. L ANCASTER ,ON Leader: Lance Laviolette Sunny with light wind 19 birders 41 species Bird of the Day : E. Meadowlark Other Birds of Note : Pied-billed Grebe, Osprey, N. Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Virginia Rail, Wilson’s Snipe, Common Tern, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Savannah Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird

01/05/10 HUDSON , QC Leader: Barbara MacDuff Perfect weather, but occasional black flies 18 birders 55 species Birds of the day : Palm Warbler, Killdeer Other Birds of Note : Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, N. Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad- winged Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, E. Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, E. Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird

02/05/10 PARC POINTE -AUX -P RAIRIES , M ONTREAL , QC Leader: Joël Coutu Sunny, 22°C 9 birders 56 species Bird of the Day : Baltimore Oriole Other Birds of Note : Cackling Goose, Spotted Sandpiper, Bank Swallow, Wilson’s Snipe, Am. Bittern, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo. Warblers: Nashville, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, and Palm

08/05/10 KENTUCKY WOODS , S UMMERSTOWN , O N Leader: Martin Bowman Rain, 8°C 7 birders 38 species Birds of the Day : Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-and-White Warbler Other Birds of Note : Wood Duck, N. Harrier, Wilson’s Snipe, House Wren, Hermit Thrush, Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, E. Meadowlark, Purple Finch

10/05/10 BOIS -DE -L’Î LE -B IZARD NATURE PARK , QC Leader: Felix Hilton Cold, windy, mixed precipitation 4 birders 30 species Bird of the Day : Sora Other Birds of Note : Pied-billed Grebe, Am. Bittern, Am. Coot, Marsh Wren

Vol. 53 No. 1 Bird Protection Quebec 11 5/05/10 WESTERN SHORE -- R ICHELIEU RIVER , S T. J EAN TO LACOLLE , Q C Leader: Sheldon Harvey Windy, cool 4 birders 62 species Bird of the Day : Scarlet Tanager Other Birds of Note : Common Loon, Osprey, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gull, Black Tern, Purple Martin, Carolina Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting. Warblers : Nashville, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black- throated Green, and Common Yellowthroat

16/05/10 MOUNT ROYAL CEMETERY , M ONTREAL , Q C Leader: Chuck Kling Sunny, 21°C 14 birders 45 species Bird of the Day : Red-shouldered Hawk Other Birds of Note : Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Am. Kestrel, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Raven, Swainson’s Thrush, Brown Thrasher. Warblers : Nashville, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Black-and- White, and Am. Redstart

22/05/10 PHILIPSBURG , Q C Leader: Sandy Montgomery Warm, calm 15 birders 70 species Bird of the Day : Tufted Titmouse Other Birds of Note : Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Great Horned Owl, Raven, N. Rough-winged Swallow, Winter Wren, Blackpoll Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

24/05/10 WESTMOUNT SUMMIT & M OUNT ROYAL CEMETERY , M ONTREAL , Q C Leader: Darlene Harvey Sunny, hot with light wind 11 birders 33 species Bird of the Day : Indigo Bunting Other Birds of Note : Cooper’s Hawk, Chimney Swift, Carolina Wren, Brown Thrasher, Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanager

29/05/10 REFUGE ÎLE ST-B ERNARD , C HâTEAUGUAY , Q C Leader: Tom Long 13 birders 62 species Bird of the Day : Tufted Titmouse Other Birds of Note : Least Bittern, Great Egret, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Virginia Rail, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

05/06/10 PIEDMONT , Q C Leaders: Wayne Grubert & Mildred Kelly Cloudy, cool, humid, 20°C 7 birders 53 species Bird of the Day : Mourning Warbler Other Birds of Note : Common Loon, Am. Bittern, Am. Kestrel, Alder Flycatcher, Winter Wren, E. Bluebird, Blackburnian Warbler, Ovenbird, Indigo Bunting

12/06/10 RIGAUD MOUNTAIN , R IGAUD , Q C Leader: Wayne Grubert Cool, humid, showers, 17°C 12 birders 48 species Birds of the Day : Young Great Blue Herons, Hermit Thrush, Mourning Warbler Other Birds of Note : Red-shouldered Hawk, Chimney Swift, Veery, Indigo Bunting

19/06/10 SOUTHWESTERN QUEBEC SUMMER SOLSTICE TRIP , Q C Leader: Martin Bowman 15 to 30°C 18 birders 77 species Birds of the Day : Upland Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow Other Birds of Note : Great Egret, N. Harrier, Belted Kingfisher, Willow Flycatcher, Horned Lark, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, N. Waterthrush, E. Towhee, Field Sparrow, Bobolink

26/06/10 SUMMER SERIES TRIP #1 -- P OINTE -DE -Y AMACHICHE , Y AMACHICHE , Q C Leader: Sheldon Harvey Mild, mix of sun and clouds 7 birders 43 species Bird of the Day : Snow Goose Other Birds of Note : Green-winged Teal, Great Egret, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Veery

03/07/10 SUMMER SERIES TRIP #2 -- P ARC -DE -LA -F RAYèRE , B OUCHERVILLE , Q C Leader: Sheldon Harvey Mild, breezy, clear and sunny 15 birders 48 species Bird of the Day : Black-crowned Night Heron Other Birds of Note : Wood Duck, Great Egret, Spotted Sandpiper, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Baltimore Oriole

12 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010 10/07/10 SUMMER SERIES TRIP #3 -- C H. D EL’A NSE , V AUDREUIL & S T. L AZARE , Q C Leader: Sheldon Harvey Warm and humid, partially overcast 13 birders 43 species Birds of the Day : Marbled Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper Other Birds of Note : Green-winged Teal, Green Heron, Least Sandpiper, Caspian Tern

17/07/10 SUMMER SERIES TRIP #4 -- E ASTERN SHORE , R ICHELIEU RIVER , S T. J EAN TO NOYAN , Q C Leader: Sheldon Harvey Hot, humid, sunny 11 birders 50 species Bird of the Day : Osprey Other Birds of Note : Northern Harrier, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Willow Flycatcher, Bank Swallow, Marsh Wren

Field Trip Diaries compiled by Sheldon Harvey

A small collection of images submit - ted by trip organizers, perhaps to entice those already thinking about next year?

Île Verte Diary

For the second time, we organized a trip to Île Verte in the find warblers in two little marshy areas. We walked down a Bas-St-Laurent region, east of Cacouna. On June 2, nine people steep hill to get to the northern side of the island. The view is gathered at the wharf waiting for the ferry, which was fabulous, with a rocky shore complete with driftwood. From scheduled for 6:30 pm. Some of us started earlier to be able to there you can see the lighthouse at the eastern end of the island bird at a few places on the way, the most interesting being as well as the Tadoussac dunes on the north shore. Cacouna marsh and the port road for the ponds. Lunch was at 12:00 p.m. and, after a little rest, we We stayed at the Motel Entre-Deux Marées, the only continued birding on the road to the lighthouse, which had motel on the island. We filled the motel completely, even with different habitats: wetland, forest and fields. Last year, at the two people per room. The rooms are rather large with two little wetland, we were very successful with warblers, but this double beds, a full bathroom and a little refrigerator. The year it was almost deserted. At the lighthouse, built in 1809 and island is about 14 km long and 1.5 km wide with only 34 in service until 1972, we searched for seabirds (mostly permanent residents; however, in the summer the population Common Eiders). No one seemed to mind the small number of can reach 200. birds, because the scenery was so beautiful. After dinner, everyone settled into their rooms and took We left the island on June 5 on a very windy cool in a little birding from the mo tel porch, which overlooked the morning. We were all a bit sorry to leave because the island is mudflats at low tide. Our mornings started at 6:30 am at the so peaceful. Among the 85 species we saw were Brant, western point ( le bout d’en haut ) to look for gulls, shorebirds, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, Black-bellied Plover, American eiders, Black Guillemot and occasionally a few whales, mostly Golden-Plover, Red Knot, Dunlin, Black Guillemot, Olive- minke. The weather was rather cool and sometimes cloudy. We sided Flycatcher and Alder Flycatcher. We would like to thank had breakfast at 8:00 am and started birding again at around everyone for their enthusiasm in making this trip a success. 9:30 am. After breakfast, we walked up a narrow trail trying to Clémence Soulard and Jean Demers

Vol. 53 No. 1 Bird Protection Quebec 13 Upcoming Field Trips - Prochaines Excursions Coordinators: Martin Bowman, 613-347-1655; Wayne Grubert, 450-458-5498 Trip Advice - De rigueur pour les excursions Transportation: Contact the leader or the Songsparrow email group if you need or can offer a lift. Cancellations: Trips are rarely cancelled, but in case of extreme weather check with the leader. Clothing: Dress warmly and wear waterproof footwear, even if the day seems mild and dry. Food: Bring plenty to eat and drink, even on half -day trips. Transport : Téléphoner au responsable ou contacter le groupe Songsparrow pour faire du covoiturage. Annulations : En cas d'intempérie, vérifier la possibilité d'une annulation avec le responsable. Habillement : Vêtements chauds et bottes imperméables sont toujours de rigueur. André Pelletier Nourriture : Toujours prévoir une collation et quelque chose à boire. Saturday, August 28 - samedi 28 août DUNDEE , S TE -M ARTINE , L A RÉSERVE NATIONALE DE FAUNE DU LAC SAINT -F RANçOIS , Q C Leader: 7:30 AM Meet at the Visitor Centre parking lot. From Montreal take the Mercier bridge to Hwy 132 and Wayne Grubert follow it west through Châteauguay to Beauharnois. At Beauharnois (before reaching the bridge and 450-458-5498 dam), turn left on Hwy 236 and follow it through St-Étienne-de-Beauharnois, St-Louis-de-Gonzague, [email protected] and St-Stanislas-de-Kostka until it once again joins Hwy 132. Take Hwy 132 west past Ste-Barbe and St-Anicet to Cazaville. Continue approximately 8 km on Hwy 132 past Cazaville to chemin de la Pointe- Fraser. Turn right on this road and meet at the visitor centre parking lot about 1 km along on the left. From the West Island, take Hwy 20 west to Exit 14 and cross over the river at Valleyfield on the Msgr Langlois Bridge, along Hwy 201 to join up with Hwy 30, continue west to Hwy 132 and from there to Dundee. About 1 to 1.5 hours from Montreal. After birding the Dundee area, we will return in convoy to Ste-Martine to look for shorebirds. Looking for waterfowl, raptors, migrating passerines and shorebirds. Half day. 7h30 Rassemblement dans le stationnement de l'Accueil. De Montréal, prendre le pont Mercier jusqu’à l'autoroute 132 ouest. Continuer sur celle-ci en passant par Châteauguay jusqu'à Beauharnois. À Beauharnois (avant d'atteindre le pont et l'étang) tourner à gauche sur la route 236 et suivre celle-ci à travers Saint-Etienne-de-Beauharnois, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, and Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka jusqu'à ce qu'elle rejoigne à nouveau la route 132. Prendre la 132 ouest en passant par Sainte-Barbe et Saint- Anicet jusqu'à Cazaville. Après Cazaville, continuer sur cette route sur une distance d'environ 8 km jusqu'au chemin de la Pointe-Fraser. Tourner à droite sur celui-ci et continuer jusqu'au stationnement de l'Accueil, situé à environ 1 km de là, à gauche. Prévoir environ 1h à 1h30 de route à partir de la région de Montréal. Après avoir parcouru la région de Dundee nous reviendrons vers Sainte-Martine, en roulant à la file, à la recherche de limicoles. Espèces recherchées : sauvagine, rapaces, parulines en migration et limicoles. Demi-journée.

Saturday, September 4 - samedi 4 septembre PARC -NATURE DE LA POINTE -AUX -P RAIRIES , Q C Leaders: 8:00 AM Take Hwy 40 East to the exit for Gouin Blvd. (Exit 92). Turn left (west) on Gouin Blvd. and follow Jean Demers it for 1.9 km, looking for the blue signs indicating "Parc-Nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies." The parking lot Clémence Soulard is located at the Pavillon des Marais section of the park, at 12,300 Gouin Blvd East. Parking: $7.00. Half day. 514-694-8240 8h00 À partir de l'autoroute 40 est, prendre la sortie pour le boul. Gouin (sortie 92). Tourner à gauche, jeandemers@ direction ouest, sur le boul. Gouin. Continuer sur Gouin sur une distance de 1,9 km jusqu'au panneau sympatico.ca bleu indiquant l'entrée du Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies. Le stationnement est situé au Pavillon des marais, 12 300 boul. Gouin Est. Frais de stationnement : 7,00 $. Demi-journée.

Saturday, September 11 - samedi 11 septembre COOPER MARSH , O N Leader: 8:00 AM Take Hwy 20 (Ontario Hwy 401) and exit at Lancaster, Ontario (exit 814). Follow Hwy 2 west, Martin Bowman and follow signs to Cooper Marsh. Allow at least an hour's travel time. Looking for waterfowl, hawks, 613-347-1655 shorebirds and migrating passerines. Half day. [email protected] 8h00 À partir de l'autoroute 20 (Ontario 401), prendre la sortie pour Lancaster, Ontario (sortie 814). Prendre l'autoroute 2 ouest et suivre les indications pour le marais Cooper. Prévoir au moins 1 h de route. Espèces recherchées : sauvagine, rapaces diurnes, limicoles et passereaux en migration. Demi-journée.

14 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010 Saturday, September 18 - samedi 18 septembre REFUGE FAUNIQUE MARGUERITE D’Y OUVILLE , Î LE ST-B ERNARD , Q C Leader: 8:00 AM Meet at the welcome centre of the Refuge Faunique Marguerite D'Youville on Île St-Bernard, Tom Long Châteauguay. From Montreal, take Hwy 138 and cross the Mercier Bridge. Stay right coming off the 450-692-1590 bridge and take Hwy 138 through Kahnawake into Châteauguay. As you enter Châteauguay, turn right [email protected] onto St-Francis Blvd. Follow St. Francis all the way to the end where it meets the Châteauguay River at Blvd. Salaberry Nord. Turn right onto Salaberry Nord. Continue past the railway bridge. The next bridge that crosses the road and river is Pont de la Sauvagine. Turn right just after the bridge. There will be a sign and an entrance ramp for the bridge for Beauharnois and Refuge Faunique Marquerite d'Youville. Cross the bridge and continue to Notre-Dame Nord. At the flashing red light turn right onto Notre-Dame and follow the signs to Refuge Faunique Marguerite D'Youville. Cross the small bridge onto Île St-Bernard. The parking area is to the right. Walking trip looking for waterbirds and late migrants. The grass paths are usually wet early in the morning so wear appropriate footwear. Half day. 8h00 Rassemblement à l’accueil du refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville, île Saint-Bernard, Châteauguay. De Montréal, prendre la route 138 et traverser le pont Mercier. A la sortie du pont, garder la droite et continuer sur la 138, passé Kahnawake, jusqu’à Châteauguay. A l’entrée de Châteauguay, tourner à droite sur le boul. St-Francis. Continuer sur celui-ci jusqu’à l’intersection avec le boul. Salaberry Nord, qui longe la rivière Châteauguay. Tourner à droite sur Salaberry nord, passer en-dessous du pont de la voie ferrée et continuer jusqu’à un deuxième pont : il s’agit du pont de la Sauvagine. Tourner à droite juste après avoir passé sous ce pont et accéder à une rampe d’accès au pont. Des indications pour le refuge faunique Marquerite-D'Youville y sont visibles. Traverser le pont et continuer jusqu’à la rue Notre-Dame Nord. Au feu rouge clignotant, tourner à droite sur Notre-Dame et suivre les indications pour le refuge. Traverser le petit pont qui mène à l’île Saint-Bernard. Le stationnement est à la droite. Excursion à pied, à la recherche d’oiseaux aquatiques et de migrateurs tardifs. Considérant que les sentiers gazonnés sont généralement humides le matin, il est conseillé de porter des chaussures adéquates. Demi-journée.

Satuday, September 25 - samedi 25 septembre GEORGE H. M ONTGOMERY BIRD SANCTUARY , P HILIPSBURG , Q C Leader: 8:30 AM Meet at the Motel Frontière. From Montreal take the Champlain Bridge, Hwy 10 east to exit 22, Sandy Montgomery Hwy 35 south to St. Jean to join Hwy 133 south to Philipsburg. Continue past flashing light, cross to the 514-482-0565 east side of the highway at the motel. Enter the motel drive, park in the BPQ lot just south of the motel. sandy_montgomery@ Good choice of trails from long and strenuous to short and easy. Bring a lunch. Looking for migrating sympatico.ca passerines, waterfowl and hawks. All day. 8h30 Rassemblement au Motel Frontière. De Montréal, traverser le pont Champlain et continuer sur l'autoroute 10 est. Prendre la sortie 22 et rejoindre l'autoroute 35 sud. Continuer sur celle-ci jusqu'à Saint- Jean. De là continuer sur l'autoroute 133 sud en direction de Philipsburg. Dépasser le feu clignotant puis traverser la voie inverse (133 nord) pour rejoindre le motel, situé du côté est de la route. L'entrée du motel permet d'accéder au stationnement de POQ, situé juste au sud. Bonne variété de sentiers dont les niveaux de difficulté vont de longs et ardus à courts et faciles. Apporter un lunch. Espèces recherchées : passereaux en migration, sauvagine et rapaces diurnes. Toute la journée.

Saturday October 2 - samedi 2 octobre ALFRED , O N Leader: 8:30 AM Meet at the Ultramar Service Station in Alfred. Take Hwy 40 to the Ontario border (signpost Jacques Bouvier Ottawa) and continue on Hwy 417 west to exit 9 (Rte 17). Follow Rte 17 beyond Hawkesbury towards 613-524-1154 Alfred (about 32 km from Exit 9 of 417). Proceed to the edge of Alfred. The Ultramar gas station is on [email protected] your right at the corner of Rte 17 and Peat Moss Road. About 90 minutes from Montreal. We will explore the area around Alfred including Alfred Bog, Alfred Sewage Lagoon and the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail. Looking for waterfowl, raptors, and migrating passerines and shorebirds. Half day. 8h30 Rassemblement au poste d’essence Ultramar d’Alfred. À partir de Montréal, prendre l’autoroute 40 jusqu'à la frontière ontarienne et continuer sur l'autoroute 417 ouest jusqu’à la sortie 9 (route 17). Prendre la route 17 et continuer sur celle-ci en dépassant Hawkesbury et en continuant jusqu’à Alfred (environ 32 km). Le poste d’essence Ultramar se trouve sur la droite, au coin des routes Peat Moss et 17. Prévoir environ 1h30 de route à partir de Montréal. Nous comptons explorer les environs d'Alfred, incluant la tourbière d'Alfred, la lagune d'Alfred et le sentier récréatif Prescott-Russell. À la recherche d'oiseaux aquatiques et de rapaces ainsi que de passereaux et limicoles en migration. Demi-journée.

Vol. 53 No. 1 Bird Protection Quebec 15 Saturday, October 9 - samedi 9 octobre PARC -NATURE DU BOIS -DE -L’Î LE -B IZARD , Q C Leader: 8:00 AM Hwy 40; exit St. Jean Blvd. north to Gouin Blvd.; left (west) on Gouin to Jacques Bizard Blvd.; right Felix Hilton (north) on Jacques Bizard Blvd., over bridge to Blvd. Chevremont; left (west) on Chevremont to Montée de 514-631-3437 l'Église; right (north) on de l'Église to Ch. Bord-du-Lac; right (east) on Bord-du-Lac to park entrance, approx. [email protected] 1 km. Parking: $7.00. Looking for shorebirds, waterfowl and migrating passerines. Half day. 8h00 De l'autoroute 40, prendre la sortie pour le boul. St-Jean nord et continuer sur celui-ci jusqu'au boul. Gouin. Tourner à gauche (ouest) sur Gouin et continuer jusqu'au boul. Jacques-Bizard. Tourner à droite (nord) sur Jacques-Bizard et traverser le pont. Tourner à gauche (ouest) sur le boul. Chevremont et continuer jusqu'à la Montée de l'Église. Tourner à droite (nord) sur celle-ci et continuer jusqu'au chemin du Bord-du-Lac. Tourner à droite (est) sur celui-ci et continuer jusqu'à l'entrée du parc (environ 1 km). Stationnement : 7,00 $. Espèces recherchées : limicoles, sauvagine et passereaux en migration. Demi- journée. Saturday, October 16 - samedi 16 octobre PARC NATIONAL DE PLAISANCE , Q C Leader: 7:00 AM Meet at the Hudson Inn, Exit 17; Hwy 40 in Hudson. From this location, we will drive in a Sheldon Harvey convoy to the park. Carpooling will be possible. From Hudson it is roughly a 60- to 75-minute drive to 450-462-1459 the park in Plaisance. Directions from Hudson Inn to Plaisance: Take Hwy 40 west (direction Ottawa). [email protected] Hwy 40 becomes Hwy 417 at the Ontario border. Take Exit 9 off Hwy 417 for Hwy 17 heading towards Hawkesbury, Ontario. Cross the bridge in Hawkesbury back into Quebec at the town of Grenville, Qc. Turn left on to Hwy 148 and follow it west to the town of Plaisance. In Plaisance, at the main intersection with the flashing yellow light, turn left and follow the road to the park's Interpretation and Visitors Centre. Note t hat there is $3.50 per person admission fee to the park. Full day ; walking and driving trip (bring your lunch). On the day of the trip, the leader can be reached on the BPQ cell phone at 514-637-2141. 7h00 Rendez-vous au Hudson Inn, sortie 17 de l'autoroute 40, à Hudson. À partir de cet endroit, nous roulerons en convoi pour nous rendre au parc. Le covoiturage sera possible. À partir d'Hudson, il faut compter entre 60 et 75 minutes jusqu'au parc de Plaisance. Itinéraire entre l'Hudson Inn et le parc de Plaisance: Prendre l'autoroute 40 ouest (direction Ottawa). L'autoroute 40 devient l'autoroute 417 à la frontière de l'Ontario. Prendre la sortie 9 de l'autoroute 417 pour l'autoroute 17 en direction de Hawkesbury, en Ontario. Traverser le pont à Hawkesbury pour revenir au Québec, à Grenville. Tourner à gauche sur la route 148 et continuer vers l'ouest jusqu'à la ville de Plaisance. À Plaisance, tourner à gauche à l'intersection principale (feu jaune clignotant), et continuer jusqu’au centre d'interprétation du parc. Noter que des frais d'admission de 3,50 $ par personne sont exigés. Toute la journée ; combinaison de randonnées et de trajets d'observation en voiture. Apportez votre lunch. Le jour de la sortie, le responsable peut être rejoint sur le téléphone cellulaire de POQ au 514-637-2141.

Saturday, October 23 - samedi 23 octobre HUDSON , Q C Leader: 8:00 AM Meet at the CPR station in Hudson. Hwy 40, exit 22 onto Côte St. Charles north, right on Main Barbara MacDuff Street, left on Wharf Street. A good choice of habitats to visit with a combination of driving and walking. 514-457-2222 Looking for confusing fall warblers, waterfowl and hawks. Half day. barb.macduff@ 8h00 Rassemblement à la gare C.P. sur la rue Wharf, à Hudson. Prendre l’autoroute 40, puis la sortie 22 sympatico.ca qui mène à Côte St-Charles. Continuer sur Côte St-Charles direction nord jusqu’à la rue Main puis tourner à droite sur celle-ci. Continuer jusqu’à la rue Wharf puis tourner à gauche sur celle-ci. Une belle variété d'habitats seront visités en combinant marche et déplacements automobiles. Espèces recherchées : parulines en migration, sauvagine et rapaces diurnes. Demi-journée.

Saturday, October 30 - samedi 30 octobre PARC NATIONAL D'O KA , Q C Leader: 8:00 AM Take Hwy 13 north to Hwy 640. Go west on 640 to its intersection with Hwy 344. Cross 344 into Wayne Grubert Parc d'Oka. Proceed 6.2 km to the Accueil Camping. An entrance fee of $3.50 will be charged. Looking 450-458-5498 for migrating passerines, raptors, waterfowl and shorebirds. Half day. [email protected] 8h00 De Montréal, prendre l'autoroute 13 nord jusqu'à l'autoroute 640. Continuer sur l'autoroute 640 ouest jusqu'à l'intersection avec l'autoroute 344. Traverser la 344 et entrer dans le Parc d'Oka. Continuer sur une distance de 6,2 km jusqu'à l'Accueil Camping. Frais d'entrée: 3,50 $. Espèces recherchées : passereaux en migration, rapaces, sauvagine et limicoles. Demi-journée.

16 Bird Protection Quebec The Song Sparrow August 2010