Friday, April 29, 2016

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip" Saturday April 30

Saturday, April 30- samedi 30 avril 
Laval Cemetery and Tylee Marsh 
Le Cimetière de Laval et Le Marais Tylee

map/carte https://goo.gl/maps/7mRBHT4qE5L2
map/carte https://goo.gl/maps/4NxJ1mBcwsG2
Guide: Sheldon Harvey 450-462-1459 e-mail 


8:00 a.m. Meet in the parking lot at the Laval Cemetery, 5505 rang du Bas- Saint-Francois, Laval, QC Driving Instructions: The following webpage will give you a map with various route possibilities for getting to the cemetery. http://www.cimetierelaval.com/ en/maps-and-directions/

The cemetery is a very interesting location with a great mix of habitat. We will drive through it, stopping at a number of different spots to check out the birds. After completing the tour of the cemetery, we will travel in convoy to the Tylee Marsh at 202 chemin de la Grande-Cote in Rosemere. At the cemetery I will provide everyone with a map of the route from the cemetery to Tylee Marsh. Once there, we will walk the long, elevated boardwalk through the marsh and then take a couple of trails that lead down to the waterfront on the Mille-Iles River. Half day.

8h00. Rencontre au stationnement du cimetière Laval au 5505 rang des Bas- Saint-François à Laval. Les instructions pour se rendre se trouvent sur ce site internet : http://www.cimetierelaval.com/en/maps-and-directions/ Il devrait vous donner les diverses options pour vous rendre. 

Le cimetière offre plusieurs endroits intéressants avec une variété d’habitats que nous parcourrons en voiture. Après notre visite au cimetière, nous partirons en convoi pour nous diriger vers Tylee Marsh au 202 chemin de la Grande Côte à Rosemère. Au cimetière nous vous fournirons une carte de la route du cimetière au Tylee Marsh. Nous marcherons sur la passerelle élevée au travers du marais et prendrons quelques sentiers qui descendent sur le bord de la rivière des Mille-Îles. Demi journée.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" Saturday April 23

A beautiful day for a walk. It started a little on the cool side in the morning with temperatures in the low single digits but warmed up to comfortable levels (10-12 celsius) later in the morning. Clear skies were the order of the day.

A large group of 30 people joined us for the walk. Due to the size of the group we were quite spread out on the trails but everyone seemed to enjoy the day. We were joined on the walk by the previous long time leader of the BPQ walks at Parc Nature du Bois-de-l'île-Bizard, Felix Hilton. Thank you to Felix for showing up and sharing some of his stories from his walks at the park.

We forgot to pick a bird of the day at the post walk list compiling but I would say the Belted Kingfishers seemed to have everyones attention at points. 

See some photos by Calvin Fong at http://www.calvinfong.com/ - Mathias Mutzl

Snow Goose 90, Canada Goose 40, Wood Duck 6, Mallard 12, Ring-necked Duck 3, Hooded Merganser 3, Pied-billed Grebe 4, American Bittern 2, Great Blue Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 3, Cooper's Hawk 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 3, Virginia Rail 1 Heard, American Coot 1, Ring-billed Gull 3, Belted Kingfisher 4, Downy Woodpecker 3, Northern Flicker 3, Eastern Kingbird 1, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 10, Common Raven 1, Tree Swallow 50, Barn Swallow 3, Black-capped Chickadee 10, White-breasted Nuthatch 4, Brown Creeper 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 6, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6, Hermit Thrush 1, American Robin 6, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, Dark-eyed Junco 2, White-throated Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 8, Swamp Sparrow 10, Northern Cardinal 3, Red-winged Blackbird 40, Rusty Blackbird 1, Common Grackle 4, Brown-headed Cowbird 1, Purple Finch 1, American Goldfinch 6

Oie des neiges 90, Bernache du Canada 40, Canard branchu 6, Canard colvert 12, Fuligule à collier 3, Harle couronné 3, Grèbe à bec bigarré 4, Butor d'Amérique 2, Grand héron 1, Urubu à tête rouge 3, Épervier de Cooper 1, Buse à épaulettes 1, Buse à queue rousse 3, Râle de Virginie 1, Foulque d'Amérique 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 3, Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique 4, Pic mineur 3, Pic flaboyant 3, Tyran tritri 1, Geai bleu 2, Corneille d'Amérique 10, Grand Corbeau 1, Hirondelle bicolore 50, Hirondelle rustique 3, Mésange à tête noire 10, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 4, Grimpereau brun 2, Roitelet à couronne dorée 6, Roitelet à couronne rubis 6, Grive solitaire 1, Merle d'Amérique 6, Paruline noir et blanc 1, Paruline à croupion jaune 1, Junco ardoisé 2, Bruant à gorge blanche 1, Bruant Chanteur 8, Bruant de marais10, Cardinal rouge 3, Carouge à épaulettes 40, Quiscale rouilleux 1, Quiscale bronzé 4, Vacher à tête brune 1, Roselin pourpré 1, Chardonneret jaune 6

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Sightings for Saturday April 12

Etang, St-Louis-de-Gonzague -map/carte: 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1000 Snow Goose, 750 Canada Goose, 1 Gadwall, 4 American Wigeon, 9 Mallard, 3 Northern Pintail, 14 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Greater Scaup, 2 Hooded Merganser, 28 Common Merganser, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 13 Ring-billed Gull, 2 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 3 American Crow, 6 Tree Swallow, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5 American Robin, 2 American Tree Sparrow, 9 Song Sparrow, 14 Red-winged Blackbird, 2 Brown-headed Cowbird, 8 Common Redpol -. 5 Pine Siskin, 3 American Goldfinch

1 Oie à bec court, 1000 Oie des neiges, 750 Bernache du Canada, 1 Canard chipeau, 4 Canard d'Amérique, 9 Canard colvert, 3 Canard pilet, 14 Fuligule à collier, 1 Fuligules milouinans, 2 Harle couronné, 28 Grand Harle, 3 Harle huppé, 13 Goéland à bec cerclé, 2 Pic mineur 1 Pic chevelu, 3 Corneille d'Amérique, 6 Hirondelle bicolore, 1 Mésange à tête noire, 4 Roitelet à couronne dorée, 5 Merle d'Amérique, 2 Bruant Hudsonien, 9 Bruant chanteur, 14 Carouge à épaulettes, 2 Vacher à tête brune, 8 Sizerin flammé. 5 Tarin des pins, 3 Chardonneret jaune - Alain Sylvain

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip" Saturday April 16

Saturday, April 16 – samedi 16 avril
Baie-du-Febvre
map/carte https://goo.gl/maps/VTO2X


Guides: Jean Demers and Clémence Soulard 514-694-8240  e-mail

8:30 a.m. Meet at the Route Janelle lookout at Baie du Febvre. Two possible driving routes. First route: Take Hwy 30 east to Sorel and then Hwy 132 east to Baie du Febvre. Look for Route Janelle on your left. Alternate route: Take Hwy 20 east to Exit 185 past Drummondville and then Rte 255 north to Hwy 132. Turn left and look for Rue Janelle almost immediately on your right. Allow 90 minutes driving time from Montreal. Looking for waterfowl, hawks, early spring migrants and thousands of migrating Snow Geese. All day.

8h30. Rassemblement au poste d’observation (cache) situé le long de la route Janelle, à Baie-du-Febvre. On propose deux trajets. Premier trajet : Prendre l’autoroute 30 en direction est jusqu’à Sorel puis prendre la route 132 en direction est jusqu’à Baie-du-Febvre. Tourner à gauche sur la route Janelle, juste après l’intersection avec la rue principale. Deuxième trajet : Prendre l’autoroute 20 en direction est jusqu’à la sortie 185 située après Drummondville. A partir de cette sortie, prendre la route 255 en direction nord jusqu’à l’intersection avec la route 132. Tourner à gauche sur celle-ci. Immédiatement après, tourner à droite sur la route Janelle. Durée du trajet : 1h30. À la recherche de milliers d’Oies des neiges, d’oiseaux aquatiques, de rapaces et d’autres migrateurs. Toute la journée.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Sightings for Saturday April 9

Etang, St-Louis-de-Gonzague - map/carte1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Greater White-fronted Goose, 3000 Snow Goose, 300 Canada Goose, 1 Gadwall, 6 American Wigeon, 4 American Black Duck, 30 Mallard, 2 Northern Pintail, 100 Ring-necked Duck, 4 Bufflehead, 4 Hooded Merganser, 30 Common Merganser, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 American Coot, 2 Ring-billed Gull, 2 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Downy Woodpecker, 16 Tree Swallow, 3 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 White-breasted Nuthatch, 3 American Robin, 3 Song Sparrow, 10 Red-winged Blackbird, 2 Rusty Blackbird, 16 Common Redpoll

1 Oie à bec court, 1 Oie rieuse, 3000 Oie des neiges, 300 Bernache du Canada, 1 Canard chipeau, 6 Canard d'Amérique, 4 Canard noir, 30 Canard colvert, 2 Canard pilet, 100 Fuligule à collier, 4 Petit garrot, 4 Harle couronné, 30 Grand Harle, 1 Grèbe à bec bigarré, 1 Grand héron, 1 Busard Saint-Martin, 1 Foulque d'Amérique, 2 Goéland à bec cerclé, 2 Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique, 2 Pic mineur, 16 Hirondelle bicolore, 3 Mésange à tête noire, 2 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 3 Merle d'Amérique, 3 Bruant chanteur, 10 Carouge à épaulettes, 2Quiscale rouilleux, 16 Sizerin flammé

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" Saturday April 9

BPQ field trip to Parc-Nature Cap-St-Jacques attracted 20 participants, a good turn-out considering it was not the warm early spring day most people were hoping for. But the sun was shining in a bright blue sky, winds were light by C.St. J. standards, and the temperature gradually climbed to the freezing point. Water levels were very high and necessitated some detours from our regular itinerary at this park.

Our total of 41 species observed included many of the ones we would normally associate with mid-winter. Purple Finches, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins continued their good showing of the past few weeks. We also had good looks at Bohemian Waxwings which should be leaving for their north/western summer homes soon. (One Cedar Waxwing was present for good measure). Among other species seen or heard were many singing Song Sparrows, a close soaring Common Raven, a distant Red-tailed Hawk being harassed by a very determined crow to high altitudes, a Great Egret flyby, several Killdeer wondering why their fields were still frozen, and a few Fox Sparrows who entertained us with their sweet songs but preferred to cloak themselves in deep brush rather than be seen clearly.

Waterfowl were in low numbers most probably because of the high water levels and fast current in the river.

As usual, the good company made up for any shortfalls in the avian sightings department. Thanks to everyone. - Wayne Grubert

Here is our list of 41 species: Canada Goose - 40, Wood Duck - 6, Mallard - 10, Ring-necked Duck - 12, Bufflehead - 3, Common Goldeneye - 60, Common Merganser - 4, Great Blue Heron - 1, Great Egret - 1, Red-tailed Hawk - 1, Merlin - 1, Killdeer - 6, Ring-billed Gull - 10, Mourning Dove - 1, Downy Woodpecker - 4, Hairy Woodpecker - 4, Northern Flicker - 1, Pileated Woodpecker - 1, Eastern Phoebe - 4, Blue Jay - 2, American Crow - 12, Common Raven - 1, Black-capped Chickadee - 15, White-breasted Nuthatch - 8, Brown Creeper - 2, American Robin - 20, European Starling - 20, Bohemian Waxwing - 80, Cedar Waxwing - 1, American Tree Sparrow - 5, Fox Sparrow - 3 Song Sparrow - 40, Dark-eyed Junco - 8, Northern Cardinal - 8, Red-winged Blackbird - 12, Common Grackle - 12, Brown-headed Cowbirds - 15, Purple Finch - 60, Common Redpoll - 100, Pine Siskin - 10, American Goldfinch - 20

Bernache du Canada - 40, Carnaed branchu - 6, Canard colvert - 10, Fuligule à collier - 12, Petit garrot - 3, Garrot à oeil d'or - 60, Grand harle - 4, Grand héron - 1, Grande aigrette - 1, Buse à queue rousse - 1, Faucon émerillon - 1, Pluvier kildir - 6, Goéland à bec cerclé - 10, Touterelle triste - 1, Pic mineur - 4, Pic chevelu - 4, Pic flabouant - 1, Grand pic - 1, Moucherolle phébi - 4, Geai Bleu - 2, Corneille d'Amérique - 12, Grand Corbeau - 1, Mésange à tête noire - 15, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 8, Grimpereau brun - 2, Merle d'Amérique - 20, étourneau sansonnet - 20, Jaseur boréal - 80, Jaseur d'Amérique - 1, Bruant Hudsonien - 5, Bruant fauve - 3, Bruant chanteur - 40, Junco ardoisé - 8, Cardinal rouge - 8, Carouge à épaulettes - 12, Quiscale bronzé - 12, Vacher à tête brune  - 15, Roselin pourpré - 60, Sizerin flammé - 100, Tarin des pins - 10 , Chardonneret jaune - 20

Thursday, April 07, 2016

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip" Saturday April 9

Saturday, April 9 – samedi 9 avril 
Montréal, Pierrefonds: Parc-nature du Cap-St-jacques
map/carte  https://goo.gl/maps/zRNbV
Guide: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498 
514-774-0811(Cell – Morning of trip only) e-mail

8:00 a.m. Take Highway 40 West. Exit Chemin Ste-Marie. Turn left onto Anse- à-l’Orme Road. Turn right and continue to the end. Turn right on Senneville Road (Gouin Blvd.). Continue for 2 km to the chalet d’accueil of the park. Parking: $9.00. Half day.

8h00. Prendre l’autoroute 40 ouest. Prendre la sortie pour le chemin Ste- Marie et tourner à gauche sur celui-ci. Continuer jusqu’au chemin de l’Anse-à- l’Orme. Tourner à droite sur celui-ci et continuer jusqu’au bout. Tourner à droite sur le chemin Senneville (boul. Gouin) et continuer sur une distance de 2 km jusqu’au chalet d’accueil du parc. Frais de stationnement : 9,00 $. Demi- journée.

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Baie-du-Febvre - map/carte1 Pink-footed Goose Arrived with thousands of Snow geese at 10:45 am at the observation site. The Goose was found in the afternoon in front of the little barn at 523 Marie-Victorin. 1 Greater White-fronted Goose in front the observation site, with 1000's of snow geese. 40000 Snow Goose, 1 Ross's Goose in front of the little barn at 523 Marie-Victorin. 5 Cackling Goose, 5000 Canada Goose, 6 Gadwall, 2 American Wigeon, 50 American Black Duck, 50 Mallard, 1 Blue-winged Teal Adult male near the water treatment ponds on the route Janelle. 200 Northern Pintail, 50 Green-winged Teal, 1 Green-winged Teal, (Eurasian) In the flooded fields near the chalets Club du LANDROCHE.   8 Redhead, 1000 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Bufflehead, 4 Hooded Merganser, 1 Pied-billed Grebe - Ducks Unlimited pond of the National Defence (Rte Janelle). 5 Northern Harrier, 5 Bald Eagle, 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 6 Killdeer, 30 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Rock Pigeon, 4 Mourning Dove, 1 Snowy Owl, 1 Blue Jay, 10 American Crow, 2 Common Raven, 2 Horned Lark, 1 Tree Swallow, 7 American Robin, 50 European Starling, 600 Snow Bunting, 3 American Tree Sparrow, 4 Song Sparrow, 50 Red-winged Blackbird, 50 Common Grackle, 10 Brown-headed Cowbird, 50 Pine Siskin, 50 American Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow

1 Oie à bec court Arrivé avec des milliers d'oies des neiges à 10h45 sur le site d'observation. L'oie a été trouvé dans l'après-midi en face de la petite grange à 523 Marie-Victorin. Goose en face 1 rieuse le site d'observation, avec 1000 des oies des neiges. 40000 Oie des neiges, 1 Oie de Ross en face de la petite grange à 523 Marie-Victorin. 5 Bernache de Hutchins, 5000 bernache du Canada, 6 Canards chipeaux, 2 Canard d'Amérique, 50 Canard noir, 50 Mallard, 1  Sarcelle à ailes bleues mâle adulte près des étangs de traitement de l'eau sur la route Janelle. 200 Canard pilet, 50 Sarcelle d'hiver, 1 Sarcelle d'hiver,   (eurasienne) Dans les champs inondés à proximité des chalets Club du LANDROCHE. 8 Fuligule à tête rouge, Canard 1000 Fuligule à collier,
1 Grèbe à bec bigarré - Canards Illimités étang de la Défense Nationale (Rte Janelle). 2 Petit garrot, 4 Harle couronné, 5 Busard Saint-Martin, 5 Pygargue à tête blanche, 1 Buse pattue, 6 Pluvier kildir, 30 Goéland à bec cerclé, 1 Goéland argenté, 2 Pigeon biset, 4 Tourterelle triste , 1 Harfang des neiges, 1 Geai bleu, 10 Corneille d'Amérique, 2 Grand corbeau, 2 Alouette hausse-col, 1 Hirondelle bicolore, 50 Quiscale bronzé, 7 Merle d'Amérique, 50 Étourneau sansonnet, 600 Bruant des neiges, 3 Bruant Hudsonien, 4 Bruant chanteur, 50 Carouge à épaulettes, 50 Common Grackle, 10 Vacher à tête brune, 50 Tarin des pins, 50 Chardonneret jaune, 3 Moineau domestique - Pierre Bergeron, Daniel Jauvin

Bird Protection Quebec Meeting "Monthly Lecture"

Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month, starting at 19:30h at:Kensington Presbyterian Church
6225 Godfrey Avenue, NDG

Lecture: Cognition in cowbirds: Do females have better spatial memory than males?
Mélanie Guigueno, postdoctoral fellow, Natural Resource Sciences (Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences), McGill University.

Mélanie completed a BSc (Honours) in zoology and an MSc at the University of Manitoba with theses studying cowbirds from the perspective of their hosts. She then completed a PhD at University of Western Ontario studying cowbirds themselves. Her main interests are behaviour, cognition and neuroscience.
 
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