Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 0

2006 FIELD OPERATIONS REPORT

MARCH 2007

STUART A. MACKENZIE

Long Point Bird Observatory c/o Bird Studies Canada P.O. Box 160, 115 Front Rd. Port Rowan ON, Canada. N0E 1M0. Website: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/Lpbo.html; E-mail: [email protected] Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ...... 2

Migration Monitoring Program...... 3

Spring Migration Monitoring Summary...... 4

Fall Migration Monitoring Summary ...... 7

Monarch Butterfly Migration Monitoring ...... 11

The Friends of Long Point Bird Observatory ...... 12

Tree Swallow Research...... 13

Vegetation Monitoring and Breeding Bird Censuses ...... 14

Doug Tarry Natural History Fund ...... 15

Latin American Training Program...... 17

North American Banding Council ...... 19

Research Initiatives ...... 20

Publications and Reports...... 23

APPENDICES: 1. Recoveries Received in 2006 ...... 24 2. 2006 Re-capture Summary ...... 26 3. 2006 Banding Summary ...... 27

STAFF: Landbird Programs Coordinator: Stuart Mackenzie Assistant Landbird Programs Coordinator: Mike Boyd Program Management: George Finney, Audrey Heagy, Jon McCracken Data Management, Trends, and Statistics: Tara Crewe, Ellen Kempman, Denis Lepage Facilities and Technical Support: Ron Ridout Administration, Events, and Merchandise: Anne Marie Ridout

LPBO COMMITTEE: Ken Abraham– Chair (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources [OMNR] ); Dave Ankney; Dawn Burke (OMNR); Eric Machell (Ontario Bird Banding Association); Art Martell (ex officio); Hugh McArthur (BSC Board); Erica Nol (Trent University); Tom Nudds (University of Guelph); Jeff Robinson (Canadian Wildlife Service). Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 2

INTRODUCTION:

Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) is the oldest bird observatory in North America, founded in 1960 by the Ontario Bird Banding Association. It began with a focus on studying and monitoring migratory birds at Long Point, Ontario, Canada. LPBO is an independent research institute that fosters and promotes investigative studies, appreciation and conservation of birds, and other aspects of natural history at Long Point and elsewhere. The organization has since evolved and expanded its programs to become what is now Bird Studies Canada (BSC). BSC is a not-for-profit conservation organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, appreciation and conservation of wild birds and their habitats, in Canada and elsewhere, through studies that engage the skills, enthusiasm and support of its members, volunteers, staff, and the interested public.

LPBO now operates as a program of Bird Studies Canada and continues to conduct five long-standing projects at Long Point, Ontario. A large part of the fieldwork is carried out by enthusiastic volunteers recruited from throughout Canada and around the world. These projects are:

1) Migration Monitoring Program 2) Tree Swallow Research 3) Vegetation Monitoring and Breeding Bird Censuses on Long Point 4) Latin American Training Program 5) Doug Tarry Natural History Fund – Young Ornithologist Workshop & Internship.

This report summarizes the program activities in 2006, LPBO’s 47th year of operation.

View South from the Breakwater Cabin Photo: Brendan Donaghey Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 3

MIGRATION MONITORING PROGRAM

LPBO began collecting standardized data on bird migration at Long Point, Ontario in 1960. In 1986, LPBO coined the term ‘migration monitoring’ to describe the use of standardized daily counts of migrating birds as a method of monitoring populations of many migratory species. Migration monitoring is a particularly valuable method in Canada, since it enables us to monitor those species that breed in northern Canada, or other inaccessible areas, which can be difficult to assess with more conventional monitoring methods such as the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). For several species that are monitored by the BBS, a correlation between the migration monitoring trends and BBS trends has been demonstrated. Each spring and fall, staff and volunteers perform daily censuses, banding, and observations at each of 3 field stations on Long Point — Tip, Breakwater, and Old Cut (Figure 1). Only the Old Cut field station is accessible by road and is open to the public. These migration count data are used to derive daily ‘estimated totals’ (ET’s) for up to 378 species of birds that have been recorded at Long Point. The program has generated a unique and vast data set spanning 47 years — the longest running program of its kind in North America. In 2006, LPBO banded 27,608 birds of 160 species bringing the grand total to 716,918 birds banded of 274 species, more than any other non-government organization in the Western Hemisphere. Population trends are derived for 64 of these species which are available online at http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/migmain.jsp. The LPBO sightings board is updated weekly at http://www.bsc-eoc.org/lpbo/sightings.html during the spring and fall seasons.

Project Partners and Supporters: - Environmental Youth Corp Program, Environmental Careers Organization of Canada - Environment Canada / Canadian Wildlife Service–National Wildlife Research Centre - The Long Point Company - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) - OMNR – Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program - OMNR – Terrestrial Assessment Program - Ontario Trillium Foundation - Transport Canada

Figure 1. Long Point, Ontario, Canada. Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 4

SPRING MIGRATION MONITORING SUMMARY

LPBO opened its nets at the Old Cut field station on April 1st 2006, kicking off its 47th spring of migration monitoring at Long Point, Ontario. The Tip and Breakwater stations were opened on April 15th and 24th respectively. Spring came early to Long Point allowing many early temperate migrants to glide through during the mild days of March. Pine Warblers had already returned by the time we got started, and Brewer’s Blackbirds frequented Old Cut from April 6th to 11th. Also on the 6th a female American Kestrel was banded, a first for Old Cut! Some early birds also surprised us this spring. An early Lincoln’s Sparrow was found on the first expedition to the Tip on April 11th, and a record early Yellow Warbler was observed at Old Cut on April 13th. Glaucous, Iceland, and Lesser Black-backed gulls were present at the Tip between the 17th and 21st. An impressive movement of over 2000 Bonaparte Gulls made their way past the Tip on the 18th accompanied by nine Little Gulls, and an adult Laughing Gull on the 19th. April was made up of a few small waves and one big push from the 19th to the 24th when 1,803 birds were banded. The highest daily banding total for the season was on the 21st when 604 birds were banded of 30 species; 409 of them at the Tip station alone. This push was dominated by Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Slate-colored Juncos, and White-throated and Chipping sparrows. Population indices calculated for Chipping Sparrows using estimated total data have shown a significant annual increase of 4.8% (spring) and 3.6% (fall). Banding totals are reflecting this trend as 459 were banded this spring, earning their way onto our spring top 10 list for the first time ever. Strong westerly gales in the last half of April blew in a few great birds. A Lark Sparrow was banded at the Tip on the 26th and a Le Conte’s Sparrow was found lurking in the dune meadows. The bird of the month, a Say’s Phoebe, was discovered at the Tip on the 28th, and remained until the 29th. This was the first spring, and third record for Long Point. There was a fairly substantial movement of thrushes toward the end of April and beginning of May. On April 29th, 81 Hermit Thrushes and over a dozen Wood Thrushes were present in just the small Old Cut woodlot. The first Yellow-breasted Chat of the season was there on April 30th. May started off with LPBO’s 21st banded Sora at Old Cut on May 1st, and the only Worm-eating Warbler of the season was banded at the Tip. Over the next 10 days 3,725 birds of 91 species were banded! White-throated and Eastern White- crowned sparrows pushed through en masse along with a good movement of Myrtle Warblers, and the first shower of neo-tropical migrants. The season’s only Evening Grosbeak flew over the Tip on May 4th. The first Summer Tanager of the year, a second-year male, was observed at Old Cut on the 5th along with the season’s second Worm-eating Warbler. The season’s first Prothonotary Warbler, a nice male, was seen flying off the Tip on th Lawrence’s Warbler backcross at the Tip May 19. the morning census of the 10 . An Photo: Stu Mackenzie amazing spectacle followed on the Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 5 morning of May 11th when over 2500 Baltimore Orioles and over 800 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks passed through the Tip. Joining in the rush that day were over 400 Bobolinks accompanied by two Yellow-headed Blackbirds and two Dickcissels. The Tip also had all six expected vireo species, including a White-eyed and four Yellow-throated! On the 12th a White-winged Dove arrived at the Tip, and was later banded. It was last observed on the 13th. A trickle of warblers began in the last week of April and we had tallied 11 species before May 1st, 23 species before May 3rd! All four variations of the Blue-winged/Golden- winged complex were banded this spring, including 19 Blue-winged and 2 Golden-winged warblers! A Brewster’s Warbler was banded at Old Cut on May 8th and a Lawrence’s Warbler backcross was banded at the Tip on May 19th along with the season’s only Cerulean Warbler, an after-second year female. The lake was a productive place to watch for birds on the 18th when Long Point’s third Arctic Tern was found, and an adult Laughing Gull was observed off of Breakwater. Strong southwest and strong west winds prevailed at Long Point from the 16th to the 22nd of May, which may have helped to blow in the bird of the year. Mid-day on the 21st, a Black Swift briefly appeared at the Tip accompanied by eight Chimney Swifts. If accepted by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) it will be the first record for Ontario, and possibly eastern North America. A young male Yellow-headed Blackbird was also present on the 21st. The first banded Summer Tanager of the season, a second-year male, was at the Tip on the 23rd. Shortly after the tanager was released, a Western Meadowlark landed and sang happily on the lawn. On the 25th, a Eurasian Collared-Dove was observed flying around the Lighthouse; if accepted by the OBRC, this will be the first official record for Long Point. The season’s second Prothonotary Warbler was observed at Breakwater on the 27th, and the only Acadian Flycatcher of the spring was banded at Old Cut on the 29th. Things didn’t slow down a bit as June rolled around. LPBO’s first ever Townsend’s Solitaire, a second-year male, was banded at the Tip on June 6th! That same morning an after-second year male Summer Tanager was banded. This was the fourth consecutive spring in which two Summer Tanagers were banded at LPBO. Could this indicate a potential northward expansion of the species? Two days later an after-second year female Prothonotary Warbler was banded at the Tip. The morning census at Old Cut on June 8th produced a Little Blue Heron at Old Cut.

Busy day at the Tip.

Photo: Tiarella Hanna.

Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 6

In spring 2006, 50 volunteer field biologists logged over 3500 hours collecting migration data on 245 species, and banding 12,443 birds of 131 species and forms. LPBO had 71 days of coverage, yielding 7,848 net hours with a catch rate of 158.9 birds/100 net hours (well above 147.7 in 2005). Twenty-one ‘Friends of LPBO’ helped to service over 2500 visitors to the Old Cut field station, including students from pre-school to upper graduate levels who enjoyed banding demonstrations among other marvels of the spring migration. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the volunteers and supporters who made the spring season at LPBO so successful.

Table 1. Top 10 banded species divided by age ratios at LPBO in spring 2006. Species Number % Second % After Second % After Hatch Banded Year Year Year White-throated Sparrow 1796 54.2 19.9 25.9 Red-winged Blackbird 638 50.8 45.5 3.9 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 606 55.6 28.2 16.2 Yellow Warbler 585 56.4 30.4 13.2 E. White-crowned Sparrow 564 52.5 12.9 34.8 Magnolia Warbler 533 53.5 36.6 9.9 Common Grackle 466 24.2 1.5 74.2 Chipping Sparrow 459 59.9 21.1 19.0 ‘Slate-colored’ Junco 430 70.2 22.8 7.0 Blue Jay 414 69.8 21.3 8.9

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTIONS:

Long-term Volunteers (> 1 month): Olivier Barden, Barbara Bleho, John Brett, Dave Brown, Kenny Burrell, Mike Burrell, Peter Coo, Helen Demopoulos, Erica Dunn, Tiarella Hanna, Rebecca Howarth, David Hussell, Simon Immler, Adam Knight, Leslie Latt, Ted Maddeford, Hugh McArthur, Fergus Nicoll, Doug Oatman (Co-op student), Henri Robert, Carl-Adam Wegenschimmel, David Wright.

Short-term Volunteers (< 1 month): Matthew Ashbourne, Ted Barney, David Brewer, Duane Brown, Heather Carscadden, Gina Coady, Sarah Doyle, Melinda Drummond, Joan Falconer, Christian Friis, Kevin Grundy, Kristabel Harris, Audrey Heagy, Jim Matthews, Linda McLaren, Jon McCracken, Dawn Miles, Gena Norbury, Jamie Pakkala, Jesse Pakkala, Louise Peppe, Lindsay Stroud, Harold Stiver, Bill Read, Ron Ridout, Sarah Taylor, Matt Timpf, Jim Urbach, Ross Wood.

LPBO’S first banded Townsend’s Solitaire. June 6, 2006.

Photo: Henri Robert

Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 7

FALL MIGRATION MONITORING SUMMARY LPBO’s 47th fall season officially began on August 15th 2006 at all three field stations. The first official bird was a moulting adult Swainson’s Thrush banded at Old Cut. Some preliminary banding began mid-July with North American Banding Council certification sessions and the Young Ornithologists’ Workshop. The bulk of this early banding was comprised of post-breeding dispersed Yellow Warblers, Gray Catbirds, and Song Sparrows. Shorebird diversity was notable this fall starting with a Red Knot and an American Golden-Plover at the Tip on August 18th. Four Long-billed Dowitchers stopped at the Tip on the 23rd, and a moulting adult Willet flew over Old Cut on the 24th. Two Buff-breasted Sandpipers were observed at the Tip on the 29th along with the season’s first White-rumped Sandpiper and an immature Long-tailed Jaeger! A Marbled Godwit flew over Old Cut that same day, and was later found on the beach in the Provincial Park. Another Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found and banded at the Tip on September 19th. The only other one banded at LPBO was at the Tip in August 1966. Movements of aerial foragers at Long Point this fall were quite impressive. On August 12th, a group of 1100 Purple Martins were observed roosting in the Long Point Company marshes, followed by 950 the next evening. On the 17th, 2500 martins were observed riding a light west wind as they streamed off the Tip. A conservative estimate of Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the Tip. Photo: Megan Rasmussen 100,000 swallows, mostly Bank were also observed roosting in the vast Long Point Company marshes that day. At Breakwater the following day the season’s only Tufted Titmouse was banded and a Grasshopper Sparrow was observed in the dunes. Eighty Common Nighthawks were observed heading east over Old Cut that evening. A strong east wind on August 29th encouraged Eastern Kingbirds and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to move. Old Cut counted 175 kingbirds and 84 hummingbirds heading toward the Tip, which surprisingly counted only 37 kingbirds, but over 400 hummingbirds! Twenty-eight warbler species were recorded by the end of August, including the season’s first Pine and only Prairie at Breakwater on the 24th. The only two Prothonotary Warblers, both males, were found on the morning census at Old Cut on the 20th and at the Tip on the 30th. Mild, calm weather kept most of September pretty dull, but temperate migrants didn’t seem to mind as Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Blue-headed Vireo all arrived in the first week. On September 3rd, the only Yellow-breasted Chat of the fall was at Old Cut. The following day a young Least Bittern was captured in a rather unorthodox fashion at the Tip, and banded as LPBO’s 12th. An Acadian Flycatcher, a rare fall migrant at Long Point, was banded at Old Cut on the 10th. Strong northerly winds on the 15th and 16th brought 910 and 650 Sharp-shinned Hawks to the Tip, respectively. Northern Flickers followed suit shortly thereafter. Numbers started to build mid-September, Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 8 with 161 on the 20th and an astounding 719 were counted flying west over Old Cut on September 25! The bulk of the warblers and thrushes didn’t push through till the end of September. On the 29th 661 birds were banded of 52 species, dominated by Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Northern Parulas were particularly abundant this fall, increasing the yearly total banded to 17, which made them one of seven species with the highest banding totals ever. The other six species were Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, and Fox Sparrow. Most of these species are late temperate migrants which suggests that the high banding totals could simply be an artefact of a concentrated late fall push of migrants which hit Long Point in the last week of October. The vireos are interesting in that each of the above species is showing significant increases based on long-term population trend analyses for LPBO. Northern Saw-whet Owl monitoring started on September 25th at Old Cut and the Tip, ending on November 3rd and 15th, respectively. Conditions were poor for owl monitoring throughout most of the fall with high winds and lots of rain. There were 31 nights of coverage at Old Cut and only eight at the Tip. As a result, only 191 Saw-whets were banded, far below recent averages. The mild fall and high small mammal populations throughout Ontario probably contributed to this as well. Four Eastern Screech-Owls were banded this fall, the highest total since 1992. The season’s only Short- Long-eared Owl in the Old Cut woodlot. eared Owl was observed at the Tip on October 29th, and a number of Long-eared Owls were regular visitors to the Old Cut woodlot in late fall. Other raptor banding this fall was productive, considering only a passive effort. Seventy- three Sharp-shinned Hawks were banded, the highest total since 1994 when 77 were banded. Other raptors banded include three Cooper’s Hawks, five American Kestrels, three Merlins, one Red-tailed Hawk, and a spectacular hatch-year Broad-winged Hawk at the Tip on September 19th (LPBO’s 7th). October started out with some exciting visitors. On October 2nd a group of 10 Glossy and one White-faced ibis were found just north of Long Point. This was the first Long Point record for White-faced Ibis. Three more Plegadis ibis flew over Old Cut on the 6th and three were at the Tip on the 9th. Blue Jays took advantage of light north-west winds on the 9th when over 1000 were counted at Old Cut and the Tip. The only Sedge Wren of the fall was observed at the Tip on the 10th, and the only Lapland Longspur of the season was banded there on the 12th. Brown Creepers, both kinglets, and the majority of temperate migrant warblers moved en masse in two waves in the second and last weeks of October. During this second wave, White-crowned Sparrows began to outnumber the white-throats and Dark-eyed Juncos inundated the area. A Le Conte’s Sparrow rewarded those at the Tip on the 20th, and a Vesper Sparrow was banded there on the 25th. Hermit Thrushes started to appear in greater numbers in mid-October, while the odd Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked were still lingering. There were 182 and 152 Hermit Thrushes at the Tip on October 23rd and 25th, Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 9 respectively, following moderate northwest winds. Presumably, these winds also brought two notable western species into Old Cut. On the 26th of October a second-year male Varied Thrush was banded. This was the third record for Long Point and the first ever banded! It was last seen briefly on the morning census on the 27th. The second species was a Bohemian Waxwing, which flew over the parking lot on the 26th. Passerine movement slows at times toward the end of the season, especially at the Tip. Luckily enough, there is often more to look at. 5000 Bonaparte Gulls, accompanied by six Little Gulls, passed the Tip on October 23rd. Common Loon movement was spectacular on the 28th when 395 were counted at the Tip, and close to 200 individuals each on the 31st, and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of November. The ‘river of blackbirds’ did not occur till the first week of November when the mixed blackbird/grackle flock numbered near 1 million birds. A record late Wood Thrush was found at Old Cut on November 1st and a late Cape May Warbler was feeding in the Old Cut garden on the 2nd, along with a Clay-colored Sparrow, which was later banded on the 6th. North winds on the 2nd got the Red-shouldered Hawks moving and the Tip crew was astounded when 135 streamed into the Tip from out over the depths of Lake Erie. Seventy- one more individuals followed suit on the 3rd. The next day a flock of 200 Red-winged, 30 Rusty, and 3 Yellow-headed blackbirds stopped briefly at the Tip. Very few winter finches were recorded this fall. Low numbers of Purple Finches were sporadically observed, very few Pine Siskins, four Common Redpolls were at the Tip on November 2nd, and even American Goldfinches appeared scarce. A highlight on the finch front was a pair of Red Crossbills at Old Cut on November 6th.

LPBO’s first Varied Thrush banded at Old Cut on October 26th. Photo: Christian Friis

Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 10

In fall 2006, LPBO’s 49 volunteer field biologists logged over 5100 field hours collecting migration data on 263 species and banding 13,103 birds of 126 species and forms. This compares to 16,798 birds banded of 115 species in 2005. LPBO had 108 days of coverage, yielding 10,476 net hours with a catch rate of 125.1 birds/100 net hours (slightly above 123 in 2005). Twenty-one volunteer ‘Friends of LPBO’ helped to service over 2000 visitors and students of all ages, who enjoyed banding demonstrations among other marvels of the fall migration through the Old Cut field station. A sincere thank you goes out to all the volunteers and supporters who made this demanding fall season at LPBO so successful.

Table 2. Top 10 banded species divided by age ratios at LPBO in fall 2006. Species Number % Hatch % After Hatch % Other/Unknown: Banded Year Year Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1500 80.9 15.3 3.8 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1196 88.4 9.4 2.2 White-throated Sparrow 860 85.1 13.0 1.9 ‘Myrtle’ Warbler 820 90.7 9.0 0.3 ‘Slate-colored’ Junco 725 85.8 11.9 2.3 Hermit Thrush 560 90.5 9.5 0.0 Brown Creeper 557 71.4 0.4 28.2 Magnolia Warbler 552 91.1 8.9 0.0 Blackpoll Warbler 368 82.9 17.1 0.0 Swainson’s Thrush 357 84.5 15.5 0.0

Volunteer Contributions:

Long-term Volunteers (> 1 month): Yousif Attia, Richard Baxter, Diane Bialek, Lynn Brandon, Helen Demopoulos, Edgar Del Valle, Bernadette Felso, Kelly Heffernan, Morgan Jackson, Zach Kaiser, Zoe Lebrun- Southcott, Maggie MacPherson, Ted Maddeford, Lucio Maniscalo, Hugh McArthur, Fergus Nicoll, Eleanor Page, Jamie Pakkala, Jesse Pakkala, Mariela Paredes-Munoz, Megan Rasmussen, Laura Riley, Matt Timpf, Ross Wood.

Short-term Volunteers (< 1 month): Jody Allair, Emily Apse, Ted Barney, Lynn Brandon, John Brett, David Brewer, Peter Coo, Dominic Cormier, Tyler Done, Sarah Doyle, Joan Falconer, Christian Friis, Kathy Gunther, Audrey Heagy, Mark Hopey, Mathew Lorenzen, Rob MacIver, Bruce Mackenzie, Jim Matthews, Dawn Miles, Gena Norbury, Bill Read, Sarah Richer, Claire Robinson, Matt Timpf, David Williams.

Dawn at the Tip.

Photo: Stu Mackenzie

Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 11

MONARCH BUTTERFLY MIGRATION MONITORING

In early fall, Long Point beings to transform into an awe-inspiring portrait of colour as the wildflowers take hold of the meadows, providing a bountiful harvest for nectar eaters. Low-lying wet areas are accented by a subtle wash of purple Fringed Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) and white Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia glauca). Golden-violet blankets of Dwarf Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) and Pucoon (Lithospermum carolinense) warm the dunes with the help of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larvae’s food of choice, the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Long Point is recognized as one of three International Monarch Butterfly Reserves in Canada due to large concentrations during fall migration. In 1990, LPBO began a daily afternoon census of migrating Monarch Butterflies through the Breakwater and Tip field stations, following the same route as the morning ‘bird’ census. In 2007, Monarch Butterfly censuses were conducted at the Tip and Breakwater for 87 and 41 days, resulting in counts of 14,374 and 544, respectively. This is far fewer than the record high counts in 2005 of 43,769, and 1,652. Peak migration occurred in the first week of September when 8,844 Monarchs passed through with the highest daily count of 2,949 on September 1st. With support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, BSC staff are analyzing the data from 1995-2006 to examine trends in the annual indices, and the effects of weather on Monarch migration at Long Point. Monarch numbers have been extremely variable over the years, but they do tend to occur in two waves in the first and third weeks of September (Figure 2). Peak migration occurs between August 16th and October 12th at the Tip, and between August 28th and September 25th at Breakwater. Cumulative totals within these migration windows were 155,999 monarchs at the Tip and 23,262 at Breakwater, 179,261 in total. Monarch numbers are greatest during northwest and southwest winds with low or high winds suggesting that they accumulate on the point during unfavourable weather. Once variation due to weather, station and day was accounted for, monarchs have shown a non-significant decline in annual indices of -5.34% per year since 1995. 900 800 700 Mean MOBU

600

500

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Daily Mean 300

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0 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 August September October Day Figure 2. Daily Mean of Monarch Butterflies counted at the Tip 1995 -2006. Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 12

THE FRIENDS OF LONG POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY In early winter 2004, long-term LPBO volunteer Hugh McArthur and BSC staff organized a new volunteer initiative designed to improve visitor services at LPBO. The fruits of their labour would quickly become a collection of 21, mostly local, volunteers known as the Friends of Long Point Bird Observatory. In 2005 and 2006, the Friends’ splendid efforts continued. Each day, a few of the Friends kindly greet the visitors to the Old Cut field station and provide them with information while manning the ‘LPBO Shoppe’. The ‘Shoppe’ was open for its third year and continued to bring valuable revenue to support the core programs. The Friends take a great deal of pressure off of the Bander-In-Charge and the program volunteers who are often undergoing intensive training. At the same time their presence has increased the quality of our visitor and education services at Old Cut. Thank you all for your help!

Volunteer Contributions:

Hugh McArthur - Volunteer Co-ordinator Bill Coles, Jean Coles, Shirley Davidge, Pat Finney, Fred Gillman, Audrey Heagy, Gail Larsen, Otto Larsen, Kathy Jones and company, Ruth Ann Logan, Ted Maddeford, Sandra Maxwell, Wilson McKane, Shirley Rothery, Diane Salter, Helen Smith, Richard Smith, Wendy Smith, Evelyn Stone, Emilie White.

The ‘Friends’ fearless leader, the legendary Hugh McArthur, HBM ‘Heavily Bearded Man’. Photo: Ron Ridout. Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 13

TREE SWALLOW RESEARCH Research on Tree Swallows at Long Point has been occurring in some capacity since the late 1960s and has run consistently since 1977. LPBO monitors three nest box ‘colonies’ of Tree Swallows at Long Point: two on the mainland near Port Rowan (60 boxes each) and the third at the Tip of the point (64 boxes). Under the expert direction of Dr. David Hussell, the objectives of this project are (1) to provide a long-term record of breeding performance of Tree Swallows in relation to insect abundance, weather, and climate change, (2) to provide opportunities for short-term research consistent with maintaining the long- term record, (3) to provide training in field ornithology for students and other volunteers, (4) to encourage collaboration with other researchers, and (5) to publish results in scientific journals. Volunteers began sampling insect abundance and diversity as well as taking weather observations in the last week of April. Nest checks commenced in the first week of May and continued until the last chicks took a leap of faith on their new-found wings. Tree Swallows typically lay 4-7 eggs in mid-late May, but we have learned that there is considerable variation among sites and between years, both in mean clutch size and clutch initiation date (Table 3.). In total, 184 nest boxes were monitored, plus an additional 47 trap boxes that were opened for nesting near the end of May. The project crew banded a total of 975 Tree Swallows (798 nestlings, 177 adults).

Table 3. Variation in date of clutch initiation and clutch size among Tree Swallows, 2000-06. SL – Sewage Lagoon, MC = Mud Creek, LP = Long Point. 1 Median date of first egg, 1=1 May. Year Median clutch initiation1 Mean clutch size SL MC LP SL MC LP 2006 14 14 20 5.81 5.33 6.06 2005 13 19 24 5.53 5.17 5.61 2004 13 13 17 5.94 5.27 5.72 2003 19 19 27 5.63 5.30 5.51 2002 28 29 32 5.73 4.94 5.84 2001 10 12 17 6.06 5.39 5.74 2000 10 14 14 5.90 5.33 5.69

Volunteer Contributions: Dr. David Hussell – Project Director. Long-term Volunteers (> 1 month): John Brett, Helen Demopoulos, Elizabeth Dentan, Erica Dunn, David Wright. Short-term Volunteers (< 1 month): Dr. Gary Burness, Melanie Crutchely, Kim Fernie, Susan Hartley, Louise Peppe, Dr. Scott Ramsay, Carl-Adam Wegenschimmel, Jim Woodford, Pat Woodford.

John Brett meticulously weighs a Tree Swallow egg. Photo: Henri Robert

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VEGETATION MONITORING AND BREEDING BIRD CENSUSES ON LONG POINT White-tailed Deer were extirpated on Long Point by 1870, due to over hunting and poaching. The Long Point Company, following its acquisition of Long Point in 1866, reintroduced deer to the Point. A lack of natural predators subsequently resulted in a herd numerous enough by 1989 that it was threatening its own food supply and was demonstrating a negative impact on the fragile ecology of Long Point. In 1989/90 the Canadian Wildlife Service organized a cull of nearly 500 White-tailed Deer on Long Point to keep the herd at a sustainable level. A smaller cull was also carried out in 1994. In 1991, following the first cull, LPBO established 15 breeding bird census plots in a variety of different habitats across Long Point, to monitor vegetation and breeding bird communities following the removal of deer. Vegetation was sampled on all 15 plots in 2006 and breeding bird censuses were completed on two: Sedge Tamarack Dune Pond and Integrated Dune-swale Savannah. A new breeding species was confirmed for Long Point in 2006. A juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl was found at the Tip on August 19th. Despite our best efforts, it was not banded.

Volunteer Contributors:

Dr. Jane M. Bowles (University of Western Ontario), Mike Boyd, Michael Bradstreet, Carl Wegenschimmel, Stuart Mackenzie, Jon McCracken, Henri Robert.

Michael Bradstreet and Jane Bowles after a day on Long Point. Photo: LPBO Archives

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DOUG TARRY NATURAL HISTORY FUND Thanks to the generosity and foresight of the late Doug Tarry, the Doug Tarry Natural History Fund was established to support educational activities for young people at LPBO. This fund supports the Young Ornithologists’ Workshop and Student Internship for teenagers from across Canada. These programs are aimed at providing pre-university level students with an opportunity to experience nature and ornithology hands-on, in a research- oriented setting. The workshop annually supports six teens from across Canada who travel to Long Point, and become immersed in bird and natural history studies for 10 days. The internship invites past workshop participants back to become immersed in the Migration Monitoring Program, while designing and implementing their own research projects.

Young Ornithologists’ Workshop (YOW) In 2004 the workshop was extended from one week to a 10-day program, thanks to a grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) PromoScience program. The 2006 workshop ran from July 28th to August 6th. Bird banding and migration monitoring were the main focus, but numerous other activities were undertaken to expose the group to a wide range of scientific experiences. Some topics covered in the workshop were:

Migration Monitoring Techniques –censussing, estimating daily totals, banding Bird Banding – bird handling, biometric data, ageing and sexing, mist net and trap use Breeding Bird Ecology – nest searching, colour banding, breeding bird censussing Bird Taxonomy and Anatomy – examination and preparation of study skins Natural History Tour of Long Point – studying natural communities of Long Point Scientific Method – hypothesis testing, data collection and management

The 2006 YOW participants were: Eric Boodman (Westmount, QC) Halli MacDonald (Fredericton, NB) Malkolm Boothroyd (Whitehorse, YK) Jamie Pakkala (St. Thomas, ON) Peter Mills (Barrie, ON) Alex Stone (Ottawa, ON)

The 2006 YOW Crew. (left to right) Malkolm, Eric, Alex, Peter, Halli, Jamie, Mike.

Photo: Stu Mackenzie

Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 16

Young Ornithologist Internship (YOI) The internship consisted of three of 2005’s YOW participants. Each participant worked on an independent research project at the Tip of Long Point. In addition to their special research project, the YOIs participated in every aspect of the migration monitoring program for the month of August. In addition to the interns, five past YOW alumni, Ken Burrell (1998), Dominic Cormier (2005), Jamie Pakkala (2006), Jesse Pakkala (2002), and Matt Timpf (1996) returned to volunteer at LPBO in 2006.

The 2006 interns were:

Lucas Beaver (Corbeil, ON) – Lucas examined niche use among migrating warblers at the Tip by classifying the habitat types and heights where individuals of these species were found on a standardized daily census and when they were captured.

Sydney Bliss (Sackville, NB) – Sydney compared weight and fat levels among resident, temperate, and neo-tropical migrants captured in relation to site-specific characteristics and time of year.

Tim Snieder (Sarnia, ON) - Tim explored factors affecting diversity and density of Melospiza and Spizella sparrows by classifying the habitat types where individuals of these species were found on a standardized daily census and when they were captured.

Project Supporters: - Doug Tarry Natural History Fund - National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) – PromoScience - Ontario Bird Banding Association (OBBA)

Volunteer Contributions: A special thank you goes out to Yousif Attia, John Brett, Peter Carson, Mary Gartshore, Audrey Heagy, David Okines, Mary-Anne White, and many Bird Studies Canada staff for their help.

T he 2006 YOI Crew: (left to right) Lucas Beav er, Tim Snieder, Sydney Bliss. Photo: Tim Snieder

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LATIN AMERICAN TRAINING PROGRAM LPBO has been operating a series of Latin American training initiatives since 1987. The training program had its roots in a multi-year collaborative research project that was conducted in Cuba from 1987-1995. In 1996, the program was expanded to include participants from the rest of Latin America. In 1995, LPBO/BSC began bringing trainees north to Long Point for a formal month-long training stint immersed in the migration monitoring program. It is also important that trainers visit Latin America to be able to identify and understand local cultures, policies and bird life. This model was very successful and has since been implemented across North America. LPBO/BSC staff have coordinated three training workshops in Jamaica and one in Mexico, and have trained over 60 individuals in advanced field ornithology. Almost all of these participants have since become active field ornithologists and researchers.

In 2006, the program hosted two interns in the fall season. While at LPBO, these individuals received intensive training on all aspects of bird banding, migration monitoring, data management, forest bird monitoring techniques, and habitat and vegetation surveys. They worked alongside our international suite of volunteers practicing and perfecting their skills in an active research team setting.

Edgar Del Valle joined us from Oaxaca, Mexico, where he is an assistant to Master Bander Manuel Grosselet, a past participant of the program. Edgar was here for the entire fall season. Mariela Angela Paredes Muñoz joined us from Arequipa, Peru for most of August and September after finishing a post-graduate environmental management program at Niagara College. She is currently pursuing graduate studies at the University of Southampton, England.

Project Partners: Funding was provided through BirdLife International by the United Nations Environment Program – Global Environmental Facility, and Environment Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service.

Edgar Del Valle learning pain tolerance with a pair of Northern Cardinals. Photo: Zach Kaiser. Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 18

IV NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY CONFERENCE

Five staff from BSC and LPBO attended the fourth North American Ornithological Conference (NAOC) in Veracruz, Mexico from October 3-7th. The conference was attended by over 1600 ornithologists and researchers from around the world and had a very strong Latin American presence. Presentations were given by BSC on species trends at LPBO, the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, geo-spatial modelling of boreal bird abundance, and second-generation breeding bird atlases as a tool for population monitoring.

BIRD BANDING IN THE AMERICAS WORKSHOP On October 9th, following the NAOC, Stuart Mackenzie attended the Bird Banding in the Americas Workshop at La Mancha Coastal Research Center, Veracruz, Mexico. The workshop was supported by the Canadian and American Bird Banding Offices. It was comprised of 55 participants representing 11 countries, and was held in conjunction with a training course offered by The Institute for Bird Populations. The goals of the workshop were to explore opportunities for international collaboration, coordination, and administration of bird banding programs in the Western Hemisphere, and provide an opportunity for interaction and networking. Participants identified opportunities for data sharing, data archiving, and network-building, with the goal of strengthening administrative processes of bird banding programs. A commitment was made to establish a voluntary banding network to facilitate data management and develop mechanisms for band and marker coordination and reporting within the Americas.

Banding in the Americas Workshop. Photo: Manuel Grosselet Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 19

NORTH AMERICAN BANDING COUNCIL CERTIFICATION

The North American Banding Council (NABC) is an incorporated not-for-profit group representing organizations whose members utilize bird banding as a tool. One of NABC’s key goals is to promote sound and ethical banding principles and techniques, partly achieved through two certification levels that have been established for North America — Banders and Trainers. Certification sessions include a written exam and a series of verbal and practical assessments using live birds and specimens. Sessions are designed to ensure bird safety is at the forefront of all activities, and that candidates have an adequate knowledge and skill base to be proficient bird banders. LPBO in cooperation with the Ontario Bird Banding Association (OBBA) held certification sessions at the Old Cut field station in July and November for banders and trainers. A special thanks to the trainers, who came from afar to help facilitate the certification. These were the first certification sessions held in Ontario.

NABC Trainers: Tom Bartlett (Tiffin, OH), Nick Bartok (Bracebridge, ON), Audrey Heagy (St. Williams, ON), Anthony Hill (South Hadley, MA), Erin Karnatz (Albion, NY), Stu Mackenzie (Long Point, ON), Sarah Morris (Buffalo, NY), and David Okines (St. Williams, ON).

LPBO/OBBA Certified NABC Banders: Yousif Attia, John Brett, Edgar Del Valle, Helen Demopoulos, Morgan Jackson, Zach Kaiser, Debbie Plotz, Matthew Timpf.

LPBO/OBBA Certified NABC Trainers: Audrey Heagy, Stu Mackenzie.

LPBO/OBBA Summer NABC Certification Session (left to right), Stu Mackenzie, Debbie Plotz, Matt Timpf, John Brett, Audrey Heagy, Erin Karnatz, David Okines, Tom Bartlett. Photo: Stu Mackenzie

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RESEARCH INITIATIVES LPBO has a unique capacity to be involved in a variety of scientific endeavours that often meld into the regular program schedule. We have modern and accommodating facilities to house and service researchers studying a variety of topics. The following is a brief summary of the research projects pursued in 2006 using LPBO data, facilities, or resources.

Bat Migration Research Bats have been captured frequently throughout the regular mist netting routine at Long Point. There are a few species that breed in the area, but many of the bats we capture were thought to be migrants. It is likely that bats use the Point in a similar way to the birds, using it to skip across the lake or becoming concentrated here as they travel along the shoreline. So the questions were raised, is Long Point a good site to monitor bat movements, and were the bats captured here migratory or resident? In a new collaborative relationship forged with Dr. Brock Fenton of the University of Western Ontario, LPBO has ventured into the world of bats. Preliminary work began in June with advanced sound recordings taken at the Old Cut field station and Long Point Provincial Park. At the beginning of August, two undergraduate students, Yvon Dzal and Lauren Hooton, began a more in-depth investigation of the bat life of Long Point. Mist netting and high frequency acoustic recordings using a microphone array occurred on every feasible night at Old Cut and the Tip for the month of August and scattered periods throughout fall. Seven of eight species of bats regularly found in Ontario were identified during their work: Little Brown Bat, Big Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Silver-haired Bat, Eastern Red Bat, and Hoary Bat. At the Tip, Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus) were the most commonly recorded species, easily identified by the very low frequency of their calls. The other species recorded may have been Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) or Silver-haired Bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans), which have very similar calls. At Old Cut there was much more activity and a wider variety of species. Hoary Bats and Big Brown Bats were recorded over the boat channels, while Red Bats (Lasiurus borealis), Hoary Bats, and possibly some Eastern Pipestrelles (Pipistrellus subflavus) were recorded foraging around street lights. Species diversity between different habitats was examined using the recordings. For each individual netted, sex, age, weight, and forearm length was taken. In addition, each individual was banded, and a tissue sample was taken for analysis of genetic variation as well as for stable isotope analysis. Roosting Red Bat at Old Cut. Photo: Sarah Richer.

Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 21

Canadian Migration Monitoring Network ecto-parasite and climate change study. This was the second and final year of the cross-Canada CMMN collaborative ecto- parasite and climate change study funded by Natural Resources Canada's Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program, organized and administered by Université de Montréal. The study is examining the possible effects of climate change on the spread of diseases transmitted by ecto-parasites (ticks) on migratory birds. Of 12,443 birds banded in spring 2006, LPBO examined the heads (the most regular location for infestation) of 9184 and performed entire body investigations of 20 birds. LPBO collected 157 of 161 ticks observed from 117 individuals (or 0.9 % of birds sampled) of 31 species. The ticks were sent to Health Canada’s National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg to be identified and screened for diseases, primarily Lyme disease. These data are being used to help prepare a risk map of Lyme disease spread into Canada in light of global warming.

DNA bar-coding of the breeding birds of North America. In 2004, LPBO collected 407 feather samples from 105 species for the bar-coding life initiative centred in Dr. Paul Hebert’s Lab at the University of Guelph. In 2005 and 2006, LPBO continued to collect feathers of target species. For more information visit www.barcodinglife.com or refer to; Kevin C. R. Kerr, Mark Y. Stoeckle, Carla J. Dove, Lee A. Weight, Charles M. Francis, Paul D. N. Hebert. 2007. Comprehensive DNA barcode coverage of North American birds Molecular Ecology Notes (OnlineEarly Articles). doi:10.1111/j.1471-8286.2006.01670.x

Influence of changes in the light beam of the Long Point lighthouse on nocturnal migrants and age ratios. Silke Laucht, a volunteer from Germany in 2004, returned for almost the entire 2005 season to conduct her MSc research while stationed at LPBO. She investigated whether changes in the intensity of the light beam at the Long Point lighthouse have resulted in changes in the pattern of nocturnal migration at the Tip. She examined age and sex compositions of birds captured at the Tip before and after a switch in the light beam, relative to the same parameters at the other two field stations. There were no significant changes noted as a consequence of the change in the light characteristics. The Tip station continues to be seen somewhat as an anomaly, because age ratios there tend to be more characteristic of an inland site than a coastal site. It had previously been suggested that the anomaly was due to the presence of the lighthouse. Silke’s thesis was submitted in March 2006 and she is working with her supervisor and BSC staff to produce one or more publications.

Investigation of “floating” Tree Swallow populations. Dr. David Hussell continued investigation of “floating” Tree Swallow populations using supplementary trap boxes to capture box-less adults. The main objective of this study is to continue to document the composition of these floating populations and to determine whether the breeding status of the floaters detected in 2001-2006 changed over time.

Linking migration to wintering populations of Myrtle Warblers using stable istopes. During spring 2005, Barry Joyce, an undergraduate student with Carleton University, collected feather samples from Myrtle Warblers for stable isotope analysis in cooperation with LPBO, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO), and Thunder Cape Bird Observatory (TCBO). Only six recoveries have occurred between PEPtBO and LPBO in the past ten years, and this has led us to believe that they are largely monitoring two separate Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 22 flyways. There was a significant difference between deuterium (H2/H1) values from LPBO/TCBO, which were similar, and those from PEPtBO. This suggests that the warblers flying through PEPtBO are utilizing the Atlantic Flyway as opposed to the Mississippi, and are wintering along the east coast.

The evolution of sperm design in Passerines. Simone Immler (post-doc) and Stephan Leopold (PhD student) at the University of Sheffield, UK, are examining sperm morphology in the New World Warblers and Icterids (Blackbirds). Simone is studying the evolution of sperm morphology in passerines, which consists of a comparative study of species belonging to different families. Stephan is examining the influence of sperm shape and function on male fertility in birds, specifically within the diverse Icterid family. In 2006, 259 cloacal samples were taken from males of 20 warbler species, ten from three species of Turdidae (thrushes), and 11 from three species of Icterid. Sperm was found in most samples. Fieldwork on the breeding grounds of most of the warbler species of interest will continue in 2007 along with data analysis and the evaluation of results.

Radar Ornithology and Northern Saw-whet Owl Migration. Bird movements were first noticed on radar late in the Second World War. Radar Ornithology has since evolved into a precise scientific method for monitoring nocturnal bird movements. The use of radar in studying bird migration is developing rapidly and is shedding light on many questions that otherwise would be nearly impossible to answer, such as total bird numbers, flight orientation, altitude, speed, and the impacts of weather. In 2006 BSC/ LPBO began to explore the field of radar ornithology in cooperation with Terry and Lynn Yonker of Marine Services Diversified Limited (MSD). MSD is a consultant and research company out of Youngstown, New York specializing in bird movements using custom radar. The migration of Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) has been monitored annually at LPBO since 1998 using mist nets and audio lures broadcasting the NSWO’s breeding call. Since then we have learned a lot about the magnitude, timing and cycles of NSWO migration through Long Point. However, there is little information on the impacts of using an audio lure to monitor the migration of owls. What is the distance that owls are attracted to the lure, and from what altitude? MSD’s Portable Radar Unit. Photo: Stu Mackenzie Also what proportions of migrating owls actually respond to the lure and get caught? In late October, MSD and LPBO teamed up to try and unlock some of these mysteries. An owl-net array and audio lure were set up at the BSC headquarters in Port Rowan from October 24 to November 2. On nights suitable for owl migration the radar unit was set up adjacent to the array and each bird was tracked as it flew over the property. Weather did not cooperate during this period and only 18 owls were banded. The radar data was incredibly noisy as our study coincided with large movements of waterfowl which made the radar screen appear alive, and almost impossible to interpret. Data from this project are still being deciphered, but there is evidence that the owls are largely following the lakeshore. Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 23

PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS BY LPBO CONTRIBUTORS OR USING LPBO DATA.

Allen, M. L. 2007. Isotope-derived origins of migratory birds passing through Long Point, Ontario. MSc. Thesis Trent University. 66pp.

Bliss, S. E. 2006. Fat Increase of Migrating Birds at Long Point, Ontario. Long Point Bird Observatory Young Ornithologist Internship Report. 11pp.

Crewe, T. L. 2006. Trends in numbers of migrant birds at Long Point Bird Observatory (1961-2005) and Thunder Cape Bird Observatory (1995-2005). Bird Studies Canada Report for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources — Terrestrial Assessment Program. 40 pp.

Debruyne, C. A., J.M. Hughes, and D.J.T. Hussell. 2006. Age-related timing and patterns of prebasic body molt in wood warblers (Parulidae). Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118(3): 374-379.

Dunn, E. H., K.A., Hobson, L.I. Wassenaar, D. J. T. Hussell, and M. L. Allen. 2006. Identification of summer origins of songbirds migrating through southern Canada in autumn. Avian Conservation and Ecology 1(2):4.

Kerr, K.R., M.Y. Stoeckle, C.J. Dove, L.A. Weight, C.M. Francis, and P.D. N. Hebert. 2007. C omprehensive DNA barcode coverage of North American birds. Molecular Ecology Notes (OnlineEarly Articles). doi:10.1111/j.1471-8286.2006.01670.x

Laucht, S. 2006. Differences in age and sex ratios of migrating landbirds at Long Point, Lake Erie, Canada in relation to location and light sources. MSc. Thesis University of Ulm, Germany. 116 pp.

Mackenzie, S. A. 2006. Long Point Bird Observatory Fall 2005 Atlantic Flyway Review Report. North American Bird Bander 31(4): 211-212.

Woods, D. 2006. Toronto Spring Warbler Survey 2006. Annual Report. Toronto Ornithological Club, Toronto, ON. 18pp.

Conference Posters and Presentations

Badzinski, D. S., and T. L. Crewe. 2006. What have we learned from 45 years of songbird migration monitoring? Poster presented at the North American Ornithological Conference, Veracruz, Mexico, October 2006.

Hussell, D. J. T., and J. M. Philips. 2006. Relationships between temperature, food abundance, lay-date and clutch size in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Oral presentation given at the North American Ornithological Conference, Veracruz, Mexico, October 2006. Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 24

Appendix 1. LPBO band recoveries in 2006. A01 = Tip, A02 = Breakwater, A13 = Old Cut.

Band Days Between LPBO Distance Species Number Date Banded Date Recovered Capture Station Location Recovered (km) American Goldfinch 2350-53280 May 12, 2004 March 10, 2007 1037 A01 Palmersville, Tennessee, USA 1002 American Redstart 2330-20076 May 24, 2004 June 5, 2004 12 A01 Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto, Ontario 130 American Robin 1142-50542 August 24, 2000 June 6, 2006 2153 A13 Port Rowan, Ontario 15 Bald Eagle 0629-28978 June 7, 2004 April 2, 2006 664 Nest Laurel, Ontario 151 Blue Jay 1202-17477 May 5, 2006 August, 2006 90 A02 Near Paris, Ontario 75 “ 1213-08095 October 15, 2006 November 18, 2006 34 A01 Near Patton, Pennsylvania, USA 255 Brown-headed Cowbird 1152-35013 April 7, 2000 April 25, 2006 2249 A02 St. Williams, Ontario 14 “ 1581-47072 April 12, 2002 April 7, 2006 1456 A01 “ 27 “ 1681-36321 April 27, 2002 April 9, 2005 1069 A02 Long Point, Ontario 10 “ 1791-34314 May 5, 2002 April 9, 2005 1064 A13 “ 10 “ 1681-36481 May 29, 2002 April 9, 2005 1040 A02 “ 10 Chipping Sparrow 2430-40213 April 19, 2005 May 11, 2005 22 A02 Lake Huron, Ontario 207 Common Grackle 1173-37031 May 24, 1990 September 25, 1995 1990 A01 Near Long Point, Ontario 15 “ 1043-83605 May 11, 1998 May 10, 2005 2557 A02 “ 15 “ 1373-16328 October 5, 1998 August, 2006 212 A13 Near Benton, Arkansas, USA 1382 “ 1373-17199 May 3, 1999 April 8, 2006 2165 A13 Port Rowan, Ontario 15 “ 1373-16454 April 12, 2004 April 29, 2006 748 A01 Tonawanda, New York, USA 110 Cooper’s Hawk 0816-83606 October 10, 2005 January 23, 2006 113 A13 Near Cheektowaga, New York, USA 110 E. White-crowned Sparrow 1861-60181 October 20, 2002 October 5, 2006 1446 A13 Tadoussac, Quebec 847 “ 1861-64393 October 21, 2004 May 7, 2006 563 A01 Near Conneautville, Pennsylvania, USA 94 European Starling 1212-57748 May 27, 2006 June 17, 2006 21 A13 Near Port Rowan, Ontario 15 House Finch 2251-46034 May 5, 2006 March 16, 2007 320 A02 Deleware, Ohio, USA 328 House Wren 2430-45044 August 18, 2005 May 8, 2006 263 A13 Long Point Provincial Park 1 Indigo Bunting 2181-57619 May 15, 2005 May 22, 2005 7 A01 Orangeville, Ontario 148 Mourning Dove 1373-03486 March 26, 2006 October 12, 2006 222 A13 Long Point, Ontario 1 Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 25

Band Days Between LPBO Distance Species Number Date Banded Date Recovered Capture Station Location Recovered (km) ‘Myrtle’ Warbler 2370-80877 October 16, 2005 February 18, 2007 487 A13 Near Apopka, Florida, USA 1579 Northern Car dinal 8051-58746 September 26, 1996 February 5, 2006 3468 A13 Port Rowan, Ontario 15 “ 1751-32121 September 22, 2002 January 7, 2006 1380 A13 “ 15 “ 1681-39941 May 1, 2005 May 21, 2005 20 A13 Near Long Point, Ontario 15 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1293-37103 November 3, 2001 November 10, 2006 1873 A01 Near St. Williams, Ontario 19 “ 1293-37161 November 3, 2002 October 24, 2004 721 A01 Hopkins Mem. Forest, Massachusetts, USA 560 “ 0634-69186 October 23, 2003 November 8, 2004 382 A13 Booth’s Harbour, Ontario 19 “ 0924-12036 October 10, 2004 October 21, 2005 354 A13 “ 19 “ 1533-01110 October 13, 2004 October 13, 2004 0 A13 “ 19 “ 0924-13124 October 25, 2004 October 19, 2005 359 A01 Near Picton, Ontario 288 “ 0924-13152 October 26, 2004 October 31, 2004 5 A01 Booth’s Harbo ur , Ontario 19 “ 0924-13374 November 3, 2004 October 5, 2006 701 A01 Marais Laperriere, Quebec 522 “ 0924-13362 November 3, 2004 November 5, 2005 732 A01 Allegany State Park, New York, USA 123 “ 0924-13225 November 3, 2004 October 25, 2006 721 A01 Near Oliphant, Ontario 258 “ 0924-12234 October 20, 2004 October 21, 2005 1 A13 Booth’s Harbour, Ontario 19 “ 0924-13518 October 27, 2005 November 20, 200524 A01 Holiday Beach, Ontario 253 “ 0924-12314 November 2, 2005 October 25, 2006 357 A13 Freeport, Maine, USA 851 Red-winged Blackbird 1162-91351 April 6, 2002 April 11, 2006 1465 A13 Port Rowan, Ontario 15 “ 1152-64722 May 8, 2002 March, 2003 305 A13 “ 15 Tree Swallow 1771-43281 July 16, 2004 May 8, 2005 296 Nest Near Port Rowan, Ontario 28 White-throated Sparrow 1721-22119 October 12, 2000 April 15, 2005 1646 A13 Near Tucker, Georgia, USA 1039 “ 1861-60686 April 18, 2003 April 16, 2006 1094 A13 Ruthven Park, Ontario – Haldimand B.O. 55 Yellow-shafted Flicker 1543-05029 April 19, 2005 April 29, 2005 10 A13 Near Vanessa, Ontario 40 “ 1063-08862 September 6, 20 06 November 10, 2006 65 A13 Booth’s Harbour, Ontario 19

Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 26

APPENDIX 2. 2006 Long Point Bird Observatory Summary of Re-capture Events*. * includes multiple recaptures of some individuals. SPECIES FOREIGN LPBO SPECIES FOREIGN LPBO SPECIES FOREIGN LPBO CONTROLS BIRDS CONTROLS BIRDS CONTROLS BIRDS American Goldfinch 0 22 E. White-crowned Sparrow 0 299 Slate-colored Junco 0 306 American Redstart 0 16 Field Sparrow 0 11 Song Sparrow 0 237 American Robin 0 36 Fox Sparrow 0 11 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 0 American Woodcock 0 1 Gray-cheeked/Bicknell’s Thrush 0 1 Swamp Sparrow 0 6 American Tree Sparrow 0 228 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 46 Swainson’s Thrush 0 17 Baltimo re Oriole 0 28 Gray-cheeked Thrush 0 15 Tennessee Warbler 0 17 Barn S wallow 0 4 Gray Catbird 0 167 Tree Swallow 0 30 Black and White Warbler 0 10 Hermit Thrush 0 105 Traill’s Fly catcher 0 8 Black-billed Cuckoo 0 1 House Finch 0 3 Veery 0 9 Bay-breasted Warbler 0 1 House Sparrow 0 10 Vesper Sparrow 0 2 Black-capped Chickadee 0 167 Hooded Warbler 0 1 Warbling Vireo 0 12 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 90 House Wren 0 30 Wilson’s Warbler 0 12 Blue-hea ded Vireo 0 1 Killdeer 0 1 Winter Wren 0 14 Blue Jay 2 141 Least Flycatcher 0 6 Wood Thrush 0 6 Blackpoll Warbler 0 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow 0 1 Western Palm Warbler 0 2 Brown Creeper 1 54 Magnolia Warbler 0 74 White-throated Sparrow 0 1033 Brown Thrasher 0 10 Merlin 0 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 0 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 0 28 Mourning Dove 1 25 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 0 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 0 1 Mourning Warbler 0 8 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 0 8 Carolina Wren 1 23 Myrtle Warbler 0 15 Yellow-shafted Flicker 0 2 Canada Warbler 0 8 Nashville Warbler 0 4 Yellow Warbler 0 122 Cedar Waxwing 0 2 Northern Cardinal 0 81 Chipping Sparrow 0 98 Northern Waterthrush 0 11 TOTAL 17 4451 Cape May Warbler 0 2 Northern Saw-whet Owl 8 10 Common Grackle 0 146 Orange-crowned Warbler 0 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 28 Ovenbird 0 36 Chesnut-sided Warbler 0 7 Philadelphia Vireo 0 2 Downy Woodpecker 0 26 Purple Martin 0 1 Eastern Kingbird 0 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 0 12 Eastern Phoebe 0 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 0 4 E. Towhee 0 26 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 0 102 E. Wood Pewee 0 5 Red-eyed Vireo 0 12 European Starling 0 7 Red-winged Blackbird 0 289 Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 27

Appendix 3. 2006 Long Point Bird Observatory Banding Summary. (A01 - Tip; A02 - Breakwater; A13 - Old Cut)

SPECIES SPRING FALL OTHER TOTAL NOTES A01 A02 A13 A01 A02 A13 Least Bittern 1 1 12th record, 1st since 1985 Canada Goose 1 1 Wood Duck 2 2 Mallard 2 4 6 Lesser Scaup 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 56 3 11 73 Highest total since 77 banded 1994 Cooper's Hawk 3 1 4 Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 7th record, 1st since 1990 Red-tailed Hawk 1 1 Bald Eagle 7 7 American Kestrel 1 1 2 1 5 Merlin 1 2 3 Sora 1 1 Black-bellied Plover 1 1 Semipalmated Plover 3 3 Killdeer 3 2 5 Spotted Sandpiper 6 6 Sanderling 5 5 Semipalmated Sandpiper 3 3 Least Sandpiper 3 3 Baird's Sandpiper 1 1 12th record, 1st since 1987 Buff-breasted Sandpiper 1 1 2nd record, 1st since 1966 Wilson's Snipe 1 1 American Woodcock 1 2 1 9 1 14 Bonaparte's Gull 1 1 Ring-billed Gull 1 1 Common Tern 1 1 Mourning Dove 4 5 22 2 1 14 15 63 White-winged Dove 1 1 2nd record, 1st since 2001 Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 28

SPECIES SPRING FALL OTHER TOTAL NOTES A01 A02 A13 A01 A02 A13 Black-billed Cuckoo 3 1 6 1 11 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 1 4 7 13 Eastern Screech-Ow l 3 1 4 Northern Saw-whet Owl 32 142 17 191 Whip-poor-will 1 1 2 Belted Kingfisher 2 2 Red-headed Woodpecker 3 1 2 6 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 2 4 7 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 10 1 6 14 7 38 Downy Woodpecker 9 3 2 6 6 6 11 43 Hairy Woodpecker 2 2 "Yellow-shafted" Flicker 24 7 3 2 21 57 Flicker Intergrade 1 1 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 3 4 Eastern Wood-Pewee 15 7 7 21 46 4 100 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 53 4 24 49 16 28 5 179 Acadian Flycatcher 1 1 2 "Traill's" Flycatcher 84 16 23 43 28 53 17 264 Least Flycatcher 83 20 34 85 58 54 3 337 Eastern Phoebe 5 2 7 42 2 10 1 69 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 2 1 1 4 10 Eastern Kingbird 7 6 4 2 3 3 1 26 Purple Martin 2 1 3 Tree Swallow 10 23 27 1 984 1045 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6 6 Bank Swallow 2 5 7 Cliff Swallow 2 1 1 4 Barn Swallow 30 3 2 3 1 9 48 Blue Jay 287 76 51 56 11 1 482 Black-capped Chickadee 38 1 18 1 1 13 23 95 Tufted Titmouse 1 1 Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 29

SPECIES SPRING FALL OTHER TOTAL NOTES A01 A02 A13 A01 A02 A13 Red-breasted Nuthatch 25 3 10 4 1 4 47 White-breasted Nuthatch 8 1 1 1 2 13 Brown Creeper 26 1 135 324 1 232 719 Carolina Wren 2 1 1 5 1 10 House Wren 19 31 19 29 25 37 13 173 Winter Wren 4 40 43 1 23 111 Marsh Wren 2 4 5 1 12 Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 5 152 686 510 1360 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 233 64 309 709 23 768 2106 Highest total. Eastern Bluebird 2 7 9 Townsend's Solitaire 1 1 1st banded for LPBO- June 6, 2006. Veery 16 9 56 18 15 28 142 Gray-cheeked Thrush 8 5 19 76 17 67 192 Swainson's Thrush 38 22 63 146 61 150 480 Hermit Thrush 41 24 204 322 2 236 829 Highest total. Wood Thrush 13 16 49 7 4 89 2nd highest total since 92 banded in 1985 American Robin 48 25 51 8 4 43 20 199 Varied Thrush 1 1 1st banded for LPBO - Oct 26, 2006. Gray Catbird 101 106 135 10 33 189 64 638 Northern Mockingbird 1 1 2 4 Brown Thrasher 44 17 23 3 1 2 90 Cedar Waxwing 13 2 5 21 1 46 12 100 European Starling 9 8 17 1 16 51 White-eyed Vireo 1 1 2 Blue-headed Vireo 13 9 23 34 11 28 118 Highest total. 112 banded in 2005. Yellow-throated Vireo 1 1 Warbling Vireo 25 10 10 18 34 21 7 125 Highest total. 117 banded in 1985 Philadelphia Vireo 15 12 2 15 21 1 66 4th highest record. Red-eyed Vireo 61 24 24 32 93 107 341 Highest total. 293 banded in 2005 Blue-winged Warbler 10 6 3 1 1 21 Golden-winged Warbler 2 2 Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 30

SPECIES SPRING FALL OTHER TOTAL NOTES A01 A02 A13 A01 A02 A13 "Brewster's" Warbler 1 1 "Lawrence's" Warbler 1 1 1st since 2000 Tennessee Warbler 2 9 6 9 26 28 80 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 1 6 8 11 28 Nashville Warbler 19 15 72 50 34 129 319 Northern Parula 3 3 3 2 6 17 Highest total. Yellow Warbler 354 111 118 40 59 41 64 787 Chestnut-sided Warbler 30 8 55 22 28 21 164 Magnolia Warbler 151 79 302 79 234 239 3 1087 Cape May Warbler 6 5 17 16 25 14 83 Black-throated Blue Warbler 19 4 33 41 38 101 236 "Myrtle" Warbler 90 95 172 465 43 312 1177 Black-throated Green Warbler 23 7 19 16 14 24 1 104 Blackburnian Warbler 11 2 17 7 20 6 63 Pine Warbler 4 2 2 1 9 Prairie Warbler 1 1 "Western" Palm Warbler 33 14 27 53 12 23 162 "Yellow" Palm Warbler 1 1 2 Bay-breasted Warbler 5 1 10 14 20 11 61 Blackpoll Warbler 25 5 10 182 128 58 408 Cerulean Warbler 1 1 Black-and-white Warbler 19 7 32 11 46 26 141 American Redstart 68 21 37 49 97 125 397 2nd highest total, since 403 banded in 1998 Prothonotary Warbler 1 4 5 Worm-eating Warbler 1 1 Ovenbird 16 15 77 9 25 35 2 179 Northern Waterthrush 22 5 2 24 68 27 1 149 Connecticut Warbler 4 3 7 Mourning Warbler 15 5 16 4 10 7 57 Common Yellowthroat 100 32 53 30 41 84 15 355 Hooded Warbler 4 7 1 109 121 Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 31

SPECIES SPRING FALL OTHER TOTAL NOTES A01 A02 A13 A01 A02 A13 Wilson's Warbler 35 14 35 24 22 48 1 179 Canada Warbler 11 6 24 13 23 22 99 Yellow-breasted Chat 2 1 3 Summer Tanager 2 2 4th consecutive year with 2 banded. Scarlet Tanager 6 3 2 10 4 25 Northern Cardinal 15 6 3 5 39 15 83 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 141 42 12 7 7 12 4 225 Highest total since 436 banded in 1966 Indigo Bunting 21 11 6 1 5 5 49 Eastern Towhee 15 8 7 6 6 42 American Tree Sparrow 1 13 16 130 237 397 Chipping Sparrow 326 123 10 40 4 10 8 521 2nd highest total since 623 banded in 2005 Clay-colored Sparrow 1 1 2 Field Sparrow 64 20 4 24 11 10 1 134 Vesper Sparrow 6 1 1 8 Lark Sparrow 1 1 5th record, 1st since 2001 Savannah Sparrow 41 1 1 4 47 Grasshopper Sparrow 1 1 Fox Sparrow 1 22 16 46 11 96 Highest total. Song Sparrow 71 13 91 117 37 187 56 572 Lincoln's Sparrow 66 20 51 3 1 11 3 155 Swamp Sparrow 24 12 50 27 4 74 32 223 White-throated Sparrow 663 462 670 224 5 631 38 2693 2nd highest total since 3469 banded in 1985 E. White-crowned Sparrow 327 203 37 85 138 6 796 2nd highest total since 978 banded in 1985 "Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrow 1 1 "Slate-colored" Junco 337 3 90 345 1 379 107 1262 3rd highest total since 1984/85. Lapland Longspur 1 1 Bobolink 2 2 Red-winged Blackbird 271 152 212 1 9 3 20 668 Eastern Meadowlark 1 1 Common Grackle 199 34 233 3 5 17 491 Brown-headed Cowbird 167 61 46 4 49 327 Long Point Bird Observatory 2006 Field Operations Report 32

SPECIES SPRING FALL OTHER TOTAL NOTES A01 A02 A13 A01 A02 A13 Orchard Oriole 8 1 9 Baltimore Oriole 150 34 24 8 9 58 283 Highest total since 250 banded in 2005 Purple Finch 5 3 8 House Finch 2 9 3 2 3 8 27 Pine Siskin 1 2 3 American Goldfinch 221 71 57 78 5 53 43 528 House Sparrow 5 6 2 55 43 111

Total 5704 2320 4419 5140 1659 6144 2221 27607 3rd highest total.

# of Species and Forms 120 85 95 107 78 96 66 160