Birds of the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area A Report and Analysis of Migration Monitoring at Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory 2001-2013 Stéphane Menu, Ph.D. prepared for PRINCE EDWARD POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY and CANADIAN WILDLIFE SERVICE March 2014 Citation: Menu, S. March 2014. Birds of the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area 2001-2013. Unpublished report for Canadian Wildlife Service and Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Table of contents Executive summary ..................................................................................................................................... 12 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 13 1.1 Goals and objectives .................................................................................................................... 14 1.2 Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 14 1.3 Migration monitoring period ....................................................................................................... 16 2.0 General overview of bird migration at Prince Edward Point .......................................................... 18 2.1 Species richness and abundance .................................................................................................. 18 2.2 Spring vs. fall migration patterns ................................................................................................ 20 2.2.1 Abundance .............................................................................................................................. 20 2.2.2 Age ratio .................................................................................................................................. 20 2.3 Influence of weather on migration .............................................................................................. 21 3.0 Banding ........................................................................................................................................... 29 3.1 Bobolink ...................................................................................................................................... 41 3.2 Owl banding ................................................................................................................................ 45 4.0 Recoveries of banded birds ............................................................................................................. 50 4.1 Owls ............................................................................................................................................ 50 4.1.1 Owls banded at PEPtBO and recaptured elsewhere ................................................................ 50 4.1.2 Owls banded elsewhere and recaptured at PEPtBO ................................................................ 54 4.2 Other species ............................................................................................................................... 55 4.2.1 Birds banded at PEPtBO and recaptured elsewhere................................................................ 55 4.2.2 Birds banded elsewhere and recaptured at PEPtBO ................................................................ 57 5.0 Catchment areas of migrant birds passing through Prince Edward Point ....................................... 70 6.0 Priority species for migration monitoring at Prince Edward Point.................................................. 76 6.1 Priority A ..................................................................................................................................... 78 6.1.1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher ....................................................................................................... 78 6.1.2 Gray-cheeked Thrush .............................................................................................................. 78 6.1.3 Swainson’s Thrush .................................................................................................................. 78 Bird Migration Monitoring at Prince Edward Point, 2001-2013 2 6.1.4 Magnolia Warbler ................................................................................................................... 79 6.1.5 Blackpoll Warbler ................................................................................................................... 80 6.1.6 Northern Waterthrush ............................................................................................................. 80 6.1.7 Wilson’s Warbler .................................................................................................................... 81 6.2 Priority B ..................................................................................................................................... 91 6.2.1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet ............................................................................................................ 91 6.2.2 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler ........................................................................................... 91 6.2.3 Western Palm Warbler ............................................................................................................ 92 6.2.4 White-crowned Sparrow ......................................................................................................... 93 6.2.5 Slate-coloured Junco ............................................................................................................... 94 6.3 Priority C ................................................................................................................................... 102 6.3.1 Least Flycatcher .................................................................................................................... 102 6.3.2 Blue-headed Vireo ................................................................................................................ 102 6.3.3 Philadelphia Vireo ................................................................................................................. 103 6.3.4 Red-eyed Vireo ..................................................................................................................... 103 6.3.5 Nashville Warbler ................................................................................................................. 104 6.3.6 Chestnut-sided Warbler ......................................................................................................... 104 6.3.7 Black-throated Green Warbler .............................................................................................. 105 6.3.8 Black- and-white Warbler ..................................................................................................... 106 6.3.9 Ovenbird................................................................................................................................ 106 6.3.10 Canada Warbler ..................................................................................................................... 107 6.3.11 White-throated Sparrow ........................................................................................................ 107 6.4 Priority D ................................................................................................................................... 123 6.4.1 Brown Creeper ...................................................................................................................... 123 6.4.2 Hermit Thrush ....................................................................................................................... 123 7.0 Species phenology ......................................................................................................................... 127 7.1 Waterbirds ................................................................................................................................. 128 7.1.1 Brant ...................................................................................................................................... 128 7.1.2 Canada Goose ....................................................................................................................... 128 7.1.3 Mallard .................................................................................................................................. 128 7.1.4 Greater Scaup ........................................................................................................................ 129 7.1.5 White-winged Scoter ............................................................................................................. 129 7.1.6 Long-tailed Duck .................................................................................................................. 129 Bird Migration Monitoring at Prince Edward Point, 2001-2013 3 7.1.7 Red-breasted Merganser ....................................................................................................... 130 7.1.8 Double-crested Cormorant .................................................................................................... 130 7.1.9 Bonaparte’s Gull ................................................................................................................... 131 7.1.10 Ring-billed Gull ...................................................................................................................