Bird Protection Quebec's -"Summer Series" - Trip #7 Report

10 birders joined up with the crew from the McGill Bird Observatory, adjacent to the Morgan Arboretum on Sunday, August 7th. It was more of an educational outing rather than a conventional birdwatching trip.

                                                                     click photos to enlarge

The temperature gradually climbed throughout the morning, with partially cloudy skies and no rain. One species far out-numbering any of the bird species was the mosquito! They were out in full force and they were hungry!                                                                             

We were able to follow Gay and her staff around    various nets as they extracted birds from the nets and transported them back to the station for banding. In the banding station, we had the opportunity to see many birds up-close as they were banded, examined, catalogued and released. We were given detailed explanations of the steps and procedures followed for each banded bird.

Of particular interest were a Mourning Warbler, an Indigo Bunting, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ovenbird, Cedar Waxwings and a Gray Catbird.

Gay also led us on a walk around the MBO property, pointing out some of the "hot" birding spots on the site.

Each day a bird census is taken by one of the volunteers at the station. On Sunday it was Leah. We combined our observations for the morning with her numbers accumulated on the census walk and with the species banded to come up with the bird list of 41 species for the day.

Wood Duck  Canard branchu 4, Red-shouldered Hawk  Buse à épaulettes 1, Chimney Swift  Martinet ramoneur 4, Ruby-throated Hummingbird  Colibri à gorge rubis 4, Downy Woodpecker  Pic mineur 4, Northern Flicker  Pic flamboyant 2, Pileated Woodpecker  Grand Pic 2, (Traill's) Flycatcher (Alder or Willow)  Moucherolle (aulne ou de saule) 1, Eastern Phoebe  Moucherolle phébi 1, Great Crested Flycatcher  Tyran huppé 3, Eastern Kingbird  Tyran tritri 8, Warbling Vireo  Viréo mélodieux 1, Red-eyed Vireo  Viréo aux yeux rouges 9, Blue Jay   Geai bleu 4, American Crow  Corneille d'Amérique 17, Black-capped Chickadee  Mésange à tête noire 31, White-breasted Nuthatch  Sittelle à poitrine blanche 1, House Wren  Troglodyte familier 6, Veery  Grive fauve 1, American Robin  Merle d'Amérique 34, Gray Catbird  Moqueur chat 4, European Starling  Étourneau sansonnet, Cedar Waxwing  Jaseur d'Amérique 56, Nashville Warbler  Paruline à joues grise 3, Yellow Warbler  Paruline jaune 23, Chestnut-sided Warbler  Paruline à flancs marron 1, Cape May Warbler  Paruline tigrée 3, Black-throated Blue Warbler  Paruline bleue 2, American Redstart  Paruline flamboyante 11, Ovenbird  Paruline couronnée 2, Mourning Warbler  Paruline triste 1, Common Yellowthroat  Paruline masquée 9, Song Sparrow  Bruant chanteur 17, White-throated Sparrow  Bruant à gorge blanche 1, Northern Cardinal  Cardinal rouge 12, Rose-breasted Grosbeak  Cardinal à poitrine rose 7, Indigo Bunting  Passerin indigo 4, Red-winged Blackbird  Carouge à épaulettes 4, Common Grackle  Quiscale bronzé 34, Baltimore Oriole  Oriole de Baltimore 5, American Goldfinch  Chardonneret jaune 21

Please remember that the MBO is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, in any capacity, please contact Gay Gruner at the MBO. She will fill you in on the various tasks that need to be performed.

You can learn more about the MBO through their website at

Thanks to Gay, Simon and the rest of the MBO staff for taking the time to show us around and to educate us on the operations of the banding station. - Sheldon