Mackenzie Nature Observatory Mugaha Marsh Banding Station 2017 Annual Birding Report 1 This is a cooperative project. Some of our main sponsors identify the project by a name and/or number: Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Peace Region Project name: Mugaha Marsh Banding Station Project Number: PEA-F18-W-2532-DCA The Project is partially funded by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP). The FWCP is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of BC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by the construction of BC Hydro dams. Environment and Climate Change Canada Project No. GCXE18080 This project was undertaken with the financial support of: Ce projet a été réalisé avec financier de: Environment and Environnement et Climate Change Canada Changement climatique Canada McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest Project: Construction of a small kitchen shelter at Mugaha Marsh banding station Bird Studies Canada (BSC), Canadian Migration Monitoring Network As Mackenzie Nature Observatory(MNO) is part of the Canadian Migration Network we receive 75% of funds raised by individuals who do the Great Canadian Birdathon in support of MNO The Birdathon is coordinated by BSC.. Mackenzie Nature Observatory P.O. Box 1598 Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0 www.mackenzienatureobservatory.ca email (secretary-treasurer) [email protected] Mackenzie Nature Observatory is an incorporated society and a registered charity. Our members enjoy nature and we are involved in various projects. This report will attempt to give an overview of what we do. Purposes of the Society: To research, conserve, restore and assist in the management of the natural resources found in the Mackenzie, BC area. To promote the understanding and enjoyment of nature by providing opportunities for public participation and education in habitat enhancement, restoration and monitoring projects that will provide additional public knowledge regarding nature. To encourage and engage in the protection and restoration of threatened and endangered species with special attention to the preservation of essential habitats. Our Executive Committee: President: Ryan Bichon Vice-President: Stephanie Killam Secretary-Treasurer: Vi Lambie Directors: David Lambie Laird Law Steven Curtis Director for BC Nature: Jeanne Shaw Banding Station Coordinator: Vi Lambie Christmas Bird Count Coordinator: David Lambie Fish Committee Coordinator: Jim Wellsman Community Forest Advisory Group Reps: John & Vi Lambie Mackenzie Public Advisory Group for Canfor Reps: Vi Lambie and Barb Paterson ii President’s Report Another year has flown by. But reflecting back, it was a good year for the Mackenzie Nature Observatory’s bird banding operations at Mugaha Marsh. I think everything went exceptionally well this year. The banders did an excellent job. Setup and takedown at the marsh went smoothly. We even got a brand new kitchen facility built! All of this happened because of the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and I thank everyone who helped out. The number of active volunteers in our club has increased slightly over the past few years and people have been great at pitching in to help out where needed. Everyone (volunteers, visitors, and school kids) seemed very happy with our banding project this year and I attribute this to the banders letting people actively participate in the activities at the station. In the past I have heard concerns from people who were not part of the action because they had little or no experience and could only watch what was going on. Participation by volunteers has been getting better over the years and this year was no exception. I saw many happy faces on volunteers who were able to touch the birds, hold and release them, learn to scribe, receive detailed training on how to extract birds, understand assessments such as skulling, moult, and feather wear, and for some even putting a band on a bird. This hands-on, active participation by our volunteers is critical to keeping the station running. I truly appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and commitment for this project and look forward to seeing the happy faces of active volunteers for many years to come. Ryan Bichon President, Mackenzie Nature Observatory Cover: clockwise starting on right Western Tanager, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Varied Thrush, Wilson’s Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Cassin’s Vireo, Townsend’s Warbler. Background photo is of the pond side of the marsh. Page i: Bottom of page is a photo of the pond side of the marsh taken September 28. iii Acknowledgements Thanks to our banders Devin Fischer, Sarah Chalmers and Sharlene James for another great season. Thanks for volunteering your time so we could do some owl banding. Thanks for all the support from our sponsors and volunteers. This was our 23rd year of banding at Mugaha. Thanks to the banders for their reports, to David Lambie for the Christmas Bird Count report and for preparing the map of the recovery, to Ryan Bichon for the President’s Report and thanks to everyone who submitted bird sightings. Thanks to Devin Fischer, Sarah Chalmers, Sharlene James, Jeff Dyck, John & Vi Lambie, David Lambie, Doug Thompson, Natalie Srochenski, Courtney Berdan for sharing your photos with MNO. Thanks to everyone who took photos on the club camera. Special thanks to Heather Meier for sharing the video of the snakes at Mugaha with MNO. A list of who took pictures on the full pages is given in Appendix 10. Photo credits. Thanks to Stephanie Killam, Sue Crosby, John Lambie, and David Lambie for reviewing all or parts of the report. Sincerely, Vi Lambie iv Table of Contents MIGRATION MONITORING – MUGAHA MARSH BANDING STATION- MACKENZIE, BC by Vi Lambie ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Background -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Goals and Objectives -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Study Area --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Methods (a summary) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 REPORTING BANDED BIRDS ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 SWAINSON’S THRUSH RECOVERY --------------------------------------------------------- 4 FUNDING, IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS, VOLUNTEERS -------------------------------- 5 Funding Sources -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 In-kind Support --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Volunteer Support ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 People pictures (first page) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 MUGAHA MARSH BANDING STATION BANDERS’ REPORTS FALL 2017 ------ 8 Overview by Devin Fischer -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 People Pictures (second page) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Weather by Devin Fischer ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 July ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 August ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 September --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Records by Devin Fischer -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Standard Banding by Devin Fischer ------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Top 12 Banded Fall 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Non-passerines --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Passerines --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Tyrant Flycatcher - Tryannidae -------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Jays – Corvidae -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Vireos -Vireonidae ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Top 12 Banded photo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Swallows – Hirundinidae --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Chickadees and Nuthatches – Paridae and Sittidae ---------------------------------------------- 13 Kinglets and Creepers – Regulidae and Certhidae ---------------------------------------------- 13 Wrens – Troglodyridae ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 Thrushes – Turdidae --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Waxwings – Bombyellidae ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Wood Warblers – Parulidae ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 Chickadees at Mugaha Fall 2017 (photos) ------------------------------------------------------- 14 Sparrows – Emberizidae ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Cardinals and Grosbeaks and Saltators – Cardinalidae ----------------------------------------- 16 v Blackbirds