Thursday, October 24, 2013

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Hello, everyone. My apologies for not getting the details posted earlier for Saturday's field trip. Unfortunately the weather does not look promising for Saturday so I have decided to keep the trip closer to Montreal in the event of us getting hit with cold and wet weather. So, I've decided to head to Ile de la Visitation where a Harlequin Duck has been seen in the last few days. We have also not been to the park on an outing since January, so we'll see what it has to offer. Here are the details:

Saturday, October 26– samedi 26 d'octobre
Montréal: Parc-nature de l'Île-de-la-Visitation 
Leader: Sheldon Harvey 450-462-1459 - e-mail
Time & Meeting location: 8:00 a.m  at the welcome centre of the park

Driving instructions: From Highway 40 (Metropolitan Blvd) take the Papineau exit. Head north on Papineau to Henri Bourassa. Turn right (east) on Henri Bourassa and turn left on Rue de Lille. Turn right onto Gouin and left into the parking area. There is a parking fee of $9.00, but there are generally a number of free parking spots on various streets directly facing the park entrance. This will be a half-day walking outing.

8h00 De l’autoroute 40 (boul métropolitain) prendre la sortie Papineau nord jusqu’à Henri Bourassa. Tourner à droite (est) sur Henri Bourassa et tourne à gauche sur Rue de Lille. Tourner à droite sur Gouin jusqu’au stationnement du parc. Stationnement : 9,00$ mais il-y'a generalement stationnement gratuit sur quelques rue en face du parc. C'est une sortie de demi-journée.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Sightings for Wednesday October 23

Baie-Sainte-Catherine: Gérard Cyr called me to report that Jean-Pierre Ouellet and him have seen the Swainson's Hawk early this morning at 574 Route 138. In the field just in front, they discovered a Western Meadowlark

Gerard Cyr and Jean-Pierre Ouellet also found the Gray Kingbird in the field front across from the Yves Poitras garage

Gérard Cyr m'a appelé pour signaler que Jean-Pierre Ouellet et lui ont revu la Buse de Swainson tôt ce matin à Baie-Sainte-Catherine au numéro civique 574 de la route 138. Dans le champ tout juste en face, ils y ont découvert une Sturnelle de l'Ouest

Gérard Cyr et Jean-Pierre Ouellet ont retrouvé le TYRAN GRIS dans le champ face au garage Yves Poitras  - Olivier Barden

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report) Saturday October 19

Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard

8:00 to 11:30 Sunny, calm, coolish 10 observers, 27 species: Canada Goose 55, Wood Duck 9, Mallard 27, Pied-billed Grebe 8, Great. Blue Heron 2. Merlin 1, Ring-billed Gull 1, Downy Woodpecker 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 6, American Crow 50, Black-capped Chickadee 5, White-breasted Nuthatch 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, American Robin 30, European Starling 2, Cedar Waxwing 6, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Song Sparrow 4, Swamp Sparrow 2, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Northern Cardinal 6, Red-winged Blackbird 24, Rusty Blackbird 3, Common Grackle 13, American Goldfinch 1

27 espèces: Bernache du Canada 55, Canard branchu 9, Canard colvert 27  Grèbe à bec bigarré 8, Grand. Héron 2. Faucon émerillon 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 2, Pic mineur 1, Pic chevelu 1, Grand Pic 1, Geai bleu 6, Corneille d'Amérique 50, Mésange à tête noire 5, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 3, Roitelet à couronne rubis 1, Merle d'Amérique 30 , Étourneau sansonnet 2, Jaseur d'Amérique 6, Paruline à croupion jaune 2, Bruant chanteur 4, Bruant des marais 2, Junco ardoisé 1, Cardinal rouge 6, Carouge à épaulettes 24, Quiscale rouilleux 3, Quiscale bronzé 13, Chardonneret jaune 1

A better result than I expected, with a bonus: Bird-of-the day: a young Great Blue Heron swimming on the marsh like a swan. In fact the bird was walking in the shallows with water up to the belly, it just seemed to be swimming. - Felix Hilton

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday 19 October – samedi 19 octobre
Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard
Leader: Felix Hilton 514-631-3437 e-mail

8:00a.m. Highway 40; exit St. Jean Blvd. north to Gouin Blvd.; left (west) on Gouin to Jacques Bizard Blvd.; right (north) on Jacques Bizard Blvd., over bridge to Blvd. Chevremont; left (west) on Chevremont to Montée de l’Église; right (north) on de l’Église to Ch. Bord-du-Lac; right (east) on Bord-du-Lac to park entrance, approx. 1 km. Parking: $8.00. Looking for shorebirds, waterfowl and migrating passerines. Half day.

8h00 De l’autoroute 40, prendre la sortie pour le boulevard St-Jean nord et continuer sur celui-ci jusqu’au boulevard Gouin. Tourner à gauche (ouest) sur Gouin et continuer jusqu’au boulevard Jacques-Bizard. Tourner à droite (nord) sur Jacques-Bizard et traverser le pont. Tourner à gauche (ouest) sur le boulevard 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 : 8,00 $. Espèces recherchées : limicoles, sauvagine et passereaux en migration. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Wednesday October 16

Montréal: Once again , I was in the Mount Royal Cemetery on a breezy, gloomy morning. Not exactly the best conditions for bird photography. Even though conditions were far less than ideal , I persisted ….and in spite of low light, I was rewarded with some good shooting.

Around sectors L-1 and L-2 on the property…… I estimated about 15 to 20 Eastern bluebirds Merlebleu de l'Est to be present….and also many Dark-eyed juncos (Junco ardoisé), Ruby crowned Kinglets (Roitelets couronne à rubis) and Yellow rumped Warblers (Paruline à croupion jaune), to name but a few.

The main highlight for me……..after 40 years of visiting the property…..I spotted…..but could not photograph… ….a Wilson's Snipe (Bécassine de Wilson)…my first for this site! I flushed the bird…which sped away from me…calling continuously and landing out of sight. Half an hour search did not turn it up again.

There’s always a chance of getting something special in the cemetery……….. during spring …or fall…migration. - Chuck Kling

Monday, October 14, 2013

Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue: I go to Anse-à-l’Orme almost daily and on Saturday October 12 there wereLesser Yellowlegs (Petit Chevalier)There aren't as many shore birds this year since the water level is much higher than last year. - Christina Anne


Saturday, October 12, 2013

Sightings for Saturday October 12

Picourt: This afternoon around 3 pm a flock of 16 Turkey vultures (Urubus à tête rouge) were seen flying over. - Sharon & Mat Hayden

Bird Protection Quebec "Field trip Report" Saturday October 12

Sixteen birders gathered at the Morgan arboretum this morning for the first part of a two-site field trip. It was a little chilly until the sun got into its stride but the trees were at their glorious best and everyone was happy to be out "even if there are no birds" … but there were. In fact there were so many birds that we spent more time in the arbo than planned - not that anyone was complaining though their intrepid leader did at one point wonder why the complaint cliché is usually about the difficulty of herding cats when it would be better phrased as herding birders.

A total of 30 species were seen in the arboretum - as follows: Canada Goose 500, Cooper's Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Ring-billed Gull 200, Mourning Dove 6, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Downy Woodpecker 4, Hairy Woodpecker 2, Northern Flicker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Blue Jay 50, American Crow 30, Common Raven 1, Black-capped Chickadee 20, Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, White-breasted Nuthatch 5, Brown Creeper 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 10, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 40, Swainson's Thrush 1, Hermit Thrush 3, American Robin 50, European Starling 25, Cedar Waxwing 16, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, Chipping Sparrow 6, White-throated Sparrow 15, Dark-eyed Junco 15, Red-winged Blackbird 6, American Goldfinch 2


Bernache du Canada 500, Épervier de Cooper 1, Buse à queue rousse 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 200, Tourterelle triste 6, Pic maculé 1, Pic mineur 4, Pic chevelu 2, Pic Flaboyant 1, Grand Pic 3, Geai bleu 50, Corneille d'Amérique 30, Grand Corbeau 1, Mésange à tête noire 20, Sittelle à poitrine rousse 1, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 5, Grimpereau brun 1, Roitelet à couronne dorée 10, Roitelet à couronne rubis 40, Grive à dos olive 1, Grive solitaire 3, Merle d'Amérique 50, Étourneau sansonnet 25, Jaseur d'Amérique 16, Paruline à croupion jaune 3, Bruant familier 6, Bruant à gorge blanche 15, Junco ardoisé 15, Carouge à épaulettes 6, Chardonneret jaune 2

Around 10:30 all but three of the original group set off to investigate the birding possibilities of the fields south of Cap-St-Jacques. This is a largely unexplored area of abandoned fields that is thoroughly overgrown and pretty well without any trails other than those created by the deer. For that reason, it is quite and undisturbed and so there is a good and a rich wildlife to try to find. The sole exception is a small aerodrome for flyers of model aircraft that seemed to be roaring business but we we were pleased to note that the loud and zooming "hawks" overhead seemingly had no effect whatsoever on the birds who tended to ignore them altogether, perhaps knowing that real hawks don't fly that fast.

After leaving the access road to the model aerodrome we started bushwhacking our way across the abandoned fields and through thickets of dogwood and buckthorn with a soupçon of willow and chest high grasses and milkweed. Everyone knew what to expect though and there were no complaints expressed (well, not to me anyway. Everyone is so polite.) But we were BPQ birders - we can do this stuff.

I did find a comment on Bushwhacking that those who were out this morning might find appropriate … "Vegetation is not quite your friend, not quite your enemy. You will sometimes grab branches to pull yourself uphill, hold them to lower yourself down gullies, and hang on for balance. Sometimes they will hit you in the face. You will pull thorns out of your hands and thighs. You will accidentally break branches, and other branches will repeatedly untie your shoelaces. Do not show remorse or fear. Plants can smell weakness, and they will team up on you like an NFL defensive line until they bring you down. You are better than them. That is why we have a dish called “salad.”

Birds seen at this second site, necessarily fewer in number if only because of the later time and the hot sun, were as follows:

Great Blue Heron 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Ring-billed Gull 1, Merlin 1, American Crow 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12, American Robin 10, Yellow-rumped Warbler 9, Song Sparrow 6, White-throated Sparrow 8, White-crowned Sparrow 1, Dark-eyed Junco 8, Red-winged Blackbird 1, Common Grackle 1

Grand héron 1, Buse à queue rousse 2, Goéland à bec cerclé 1, Faucon émerillon 1, Corneille d'Amérique 3, Roitelet à couronne rubis 12, Merle d'Amérique 10, Paruline à croupion jaune 9, Bruant chanteur 6, Bruant à gorge blanche 8, Bruant à couronne blanche 1, Junco ardoisé 8, Carouge à épaulettes 1, Quiscale bronzé 1

Total species for the day = 32

My thanks to everyone who came for being cheerful and knowledgeable and for sticking the course to the end - by doing so we discovered a bird-rich area that should be explored in greater detail during the next spring migration. A welcome too, to Danielle from the Laurentides birding club who joined us today as her club had nothing organised.
Happy Thanksgiving

Richard

Friday, October 11, 2013

Sightings for Friday October 11

Victoriaville: I did a little tour of réservoir Beaudet this evening 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. I saw once again a Ross's Goose was among the group of Snow geese. A Lesser black-backed gull was also present. I did not seen the Greater white-fronted Goose, but the number of Canada geese was very low while I was there. When I left, the number of Snow geese was approximately 45,000 

J’ai fait une petite tournée au réservoir Beaudet ce soir de 17:45 à 18:30 hre. J’ai pu observer de nouveau une Oie de Ross parmi le groupe d’oie des neiges. Un Goéland brun était aussi présent. Je n’ai pas revu l’Oie rieuse, mais, le nombre de Bernache était très bas pendant que j’y étais. À mon départ, le nombre d’oie des neiges s’élevait à environ 45 000 - Daniel Gagné

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Sightings for Thursday October 10

Victoriaville, Réservoir Beaudet: This morning, at 7 am, a Greater white-fronted goose was present amongst a group of Canada Geese. At this time, many Snow geese had already left for the fields. This afternoon, around 4 pm, there were at least 25,000 individuals and probably even more in the fields.

Ce matin, 7:00 hre, une Oie rieuse était présente parmi un groupe de Bernache du Canada. À cette heure, plusieurs Oies des neiges étaient déjà parties dans les champs. Cet après-midi, vers 16:00 hre, il y avait au moins 25 000 individus et probablement plusieurs encore dans les champs. - Daniel Gagné

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday October 12 – samedi 12 octobre
A West Island Pot Pourri of Autumnal Birding
Leader: Richard Gregson e-mail 
Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue 
8:00 a.m. Birds at this time of the year are not always as easily observed as they are in spring, so we will try to increase our chances of finding them by covering a bit more territory and range of habitats. We will begin by walking and birding in the Morgan Arboretum (marked 1 on the map below) for about 90 minutes to two hours, then drive a short distance east to the southern end of the Anse-à-l’Orme nature park where there are some trails by the river to explore (2). We will continue north-west by car to the bay at the northern end of the park, where we can check for late shorebirds, assorted waterfowl and raptors, especially Osprey (3). Following this, we will park at the Cap-St-Jacques nature park or, discretely, in the school across the road if you don’t have a park pass) but instead of entering the park we will cross the road and investigate the extensive fields to the south (4) where there is a mixture of woodland, neglected hedgerows and overgrown abandoned fields – this can be a paradise for raptor fans. The trails in this sector are mostly deer trails so come shod for some rough walking.
Nothing is guaranteed, but anything can be anticipated.
A spotting scope is recommended for sections of the walk.
Fees associated with this trip are $5.00 entry at the Arboretum for non-members, and either the Anse-à-l’Orme or Cap-St-Jacques parking fee of $8.00, for those without the annual pass. Free parking may be available at the school opposite Cap-St-J if we are discrete.
12octmap

Sunday, October 06, 2013

Sightings for Sunday October 6

Tadoussac: A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher lingered near the house at the Tadoussac dunes, for more than two hours this morning. The bird, however, remained rather quiet since I was the only observer. I was able to take some PHOTOS 

Un Gobemoucheron gris-bleu s'est attardé près de la maison des dunes à Tadoussac pendant plus de deux heures ce matin. L'oiseau est cependant demeuré plutôt discret puisque j'ai été le seul à pouvoir l'observer. J'ai pu prendre quelques PHOTOS - Samuel Denault
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Cap Tourmente: The Clay-colored Sparrow is still present at the feeders of the Provancher house in Cap Tourmente  I was there from 10 am to 12 pm with several observers

Le Bruant des plaines est toujours présent aux mangeoires de la maison Provancher au Cap Tourmente. J'étais sur place de 10 h à 12 h en compagnie de plusieurs observateurs - Maurice Raymond

Saturday, October 05, 2013

Bird Protection Quebec "Field trip Report" Saturday October 5

Châteauguay, Île Saint-Bernard (Refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville)


13 Birders - 12 C - 16 C sunny and little wind.  - Tom Long

60 Canada Goose, 5 Wood Duck, 40 Mallard, 30 Double-crested Cormorant, 6 Great Blue Heron, 6 Great Egret, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 30 Ring-billed Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Rock Pigeon, 2 Belted Kingfisher, 3 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 4 Blue Jay, 12 American Crow, 30 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Tufted Titmouse, 6 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Brown Creeper, 12 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Hermit Thrush, 6 American Robin, 50 European Starling, Cedar Waxwing (heard only), 1 Northern Parula, 24 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 40 Song Sparrow, 20 White-throated Sparrow, 6 White-crowned Sparrow, 1 Northern Cardinal, 4 Red-winged Blackbird, 6 Common Grackle, 4 American Goldfinch


60 Bernache du Canada, 5 Canard branchu, 40 Canard colvert, 30 Cormoran à aigrettes, 6 Grand héron, 6 Grande aigrette, 1 Busard Saint-Martin, 1 Épervier de Cooper, 30 Goéland à bec cerclé  5 Goéland marin, 2 Pigeon biset, 2 Martin-pêcheur dAmérique, 3 Pic mineur, 2 Pic flaboyant, 1 Grand Pic, 4 Geai bleu, 12 Corneille d'Amérique, 30 Mésange à tête noire, 1 Mésange bicolore, 6 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 1 Grimpereau brun, 12 Roitelet à couronne rubis , 1 Grive solitaire, 6 Merle d'Amérique, 50 Étourneau sansonnet, Jaseur d'Amérique (entendu seulement), Paruline à collier 1, 24 Paruline à croupion jaune, 40 Bruant chanteur, 20 Bruant à gorge blanche, 6 Bruant à couronne blanche, 1  Cardinal rouge, 4 Carouge à épaulettes, 6 Quiscale bronzé, 4 Chardonneret jaune

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Sightings for Thursday October 3

Verdun, Île des Soeurs, ice bridge: 12 Canada Goose, 1 Gadwall, 4 American Wigeon, 10 Mallard, 1 Common Loon, 7 Horned Grebe, 300 Double-crested Cormorant, 2 Red-necked Phalarope, 100 Ring-billed Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 30 European Starling, 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Song Sparrow

sur l'estacade de l'île des Soeœurs: 12 Bernache du Canada, 1 Canard chipeau, 4 Canard d'Amérique, 10 Canard colvert, 1 Plongeon huard, 7 Grèbe esclavon, 300 Cormoran à aigrettes, 2 Phalarope à bec étroit, 100 Goéland à bec cerclé, 5 Goéland marin, 1 Pic mineur, 30 Étourneau sansonnet, 10 Paruline à croupion jaune, 1 Bruant chanteur - Pierre Bannon 

Bird Protection Quebec "Field trip Report" Saturday September 28

Fifteen birders showed up on a glorious early autumn day to take part in our fall trip to Oka Park. Cloudless skies, temperatures climbing to 22°C and a smooth as glass surface on the Ottawa River were very different from the high winds and/or rain which have so often plagued this outing in past years. 
 
Bird numbers were definitely on the low side both from a species and individual point of view. Perhaps the good weather leading up to the day meant that early migrators had passed on and a new wave had yet to take their place. We walked the beach area and the trail to Lac de la Sauvagine. Then a smaller group moved on to the path down to La Grande Baie where even there the number of waterfowl seemed much lower than usual.
 
Bird of the day was a cooperative Baird's Sandpiper on the beach which was a good sighting considering shorebirds were few in number and there were many non-birders strolling the shoreline taking advantage of the weather. This particular bird seemed oblivious to them. 
Mary Ellen may disagree with our "sighting of the day" as she had a few of her own...(read between the lines as this is Oka Park well known for a certain section at the east end of its beach!)

Although the birds were low in number we had a very enjoyable outing with good company and spectacular weather. Thanks to everyone who came out. - Wayne

Our complete list of 46 species included: (Note that many ducks went unidentified at La Grande Baie due to distance, lighting conditions, and of course the famous floating boardwalk.)
 
Canada Goose - 200+, Wood Duck - 6, Gadwall - 6, American Black Duck - 10, Mallard - 20, Green-winged Teal - 12, Ring-necked Duck - 40+, Scaup Species - 100 (High flying flock), Hooded Merganser - 14, Pied-billed Grebe - 1, Double-crested Cormorant - 2, Great Blue Heron - 5, Great Egret - 1, Turkey Vulture - 2, Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1, Greater Yellowlegs - 1, Semipalmated Sandpiper - 3, Baird's Sandpiper - 1, Ring-billed Gull - 200+, Mourning Dove - 8, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 3, Downy Woodpecker - 2, Hairy Woodpecker - 4, Northern Flicker - 2, Pileated Woodpecker - 1 (heard), Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 (heard), Red-eyed Vireo - 1, Blue Jay - 4, American Crow - 12, Black-capped Chickadee - 15, Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1, White-breasted Nuthatch - 7, Golden-crowned Kinglet - 12, Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3, Veery - 1, Hermit Thrush - 2, European Starling - 1, Northern Parula - 1, Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1, Magnolia Warbler - 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler -20, Pine Warbler - 4 (Mostly heard), Song Sparrow - 4, White-throated Sparrow - 6, Red-winged Blackbird - 12, American Goldfinch - 6


Bernache duCanada  - 200 +, Canard branchu - 6, Canard chipeau - 6, Canard noir - 10, Canard colvert - 20, Sarcelle à ailes vertes - 12, Fuligule à collier - 40 +, Fuligules espèces - 100 (en vol), Harle couronné - 14, Grèbe à bec bigarré - 1, Cormoran à aigrettes - 2, Grand héron - 5, Grande Aigrette - 1, Urubu à tête rouge - 2, Épervier brun - 1, Grand Chevalier - 1, Bécasseau semipalmé - 3, Bécasseau de Baird - 1, Goéland à bec cerclé - 200 +, Tourterelle triste - 8, Pic maculé - 3, Pic mineur - 2, Pic chevelu - 4, Pic flaboyant - 2, Grand Pic - 1 (entendu), Pioui de l'Est - 1 (entendu), Viréo aux yeux rouges - 1, Geai bleu - 4, Corneille d'Amérique - 12, Mésange à tête noire - 15, Sittelle à poitrine rousse - 1, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 7, Roitelet à couronne dorée - 12, Roitelet à couronne rubis - 3, Grive fauve - 1, Grive solitaire - 2, Étourneau sansonnet - 1, Paruline à collier - 1, Paruline à flancs marron - 1, Paruline à tête cendrée - 2, Paruline à croupion jaune -20, Paruline des pins - 4 (entendu), Bruant chanteur - 4, Bruant à gorge blanche - 6, Carouge à épaulettes - 12, Chardonneret jaune - 6

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Bird Protection Quebec "Monthly Lecture:

The Role Wildlife Rehabilitation Plays in the Conservation of Threatened Species
Presentation by Susan Wylie, Executive Director, Le Nichoir
Monday, October 7, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Kensington Presbyterian Church, 6225 Godfrey Ave., NDG


This presentation will discuss the role wildlife rehabilitation plays in the conservation of threatened species and species of special concern. Every year Le Nichoir receives over 1,500 wild songbirds and aquatic birds that require care. Although many of these birds are of common species, they play an essential role in helping the centre to educate the public and to acquire specialized skills that can be applied to rarer birds such as the Chimney Swift, Barn Swallow, Common Nighthawk and Canada Warbler.

Le Nichoir has become known internationally among the rehabilitation community for the care of Chimney Swifts and has a release rate of over 80%. The centre hopes to participate in post-release studies that would measure their survival rate after going through rehabilitation to confirm the success of the techniques used for their care. Our goal is to release viable, reproducing individuals back into the wild.



As Executive Director of Le Nichoir, Susan Wylie feels strongly about promoting wild bird conservation through linking science, education and professionalism to rehabilitation. She has been caring for songbirds and aquatic birds at Le Nichoir for ten years, with her passion being the rehabilitation of insectivorous birds, especially the threatened Chimney Swift. Susan graduated from McGill University majoring in wildlife biology, and is an environmental management technician. She also has sat on the board of directors for IWRC (International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council) since 2008 and is an IWRC instructor.

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Châteauguay, Île Saint-Bernard (Refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville)  MAP / CARTE
Saturday 5 October – samedi 5 octobre
Leader: Tom Long 450-692-1590 e-mail

8:00 a.m. Meet at the welcome centre of the Refuge Faunique Marguerite D’Youville on Île St-Bernard, Châteauguay. From Montreal, take Highway 138 and cross the Mercier Bridge. Stay right coming off the bridge and take Highway 138 through Kahnawake into Châteauguay. As you enter Châteauguay, turn right onto Boul. St-Francis. Follow St. Francis all the way to the end where it meets the Châteauguay River at Boulevard Salaberry Nord. Turn right on to 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. $3.00 admission fee. Half day.

8 h00 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. Frais d’entrée de 3.00$. Demi-journée.