Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Quebec eBird top 100 Hotspots

         All Quebec


1RNF du cap Tourmente

260
2Ile des Soeurs

233
3Sablière, St-Lazare

222
4Pointe de Maizerets

215
5Baie-du-Febvre

213
6PN d'Oka--zone générale

212
7Tadoussac

212
8Parc-nature de l'Île-de-la-Visitation

211
9PN de la Yamaska

205
10Ile Saint- Bernard, RF Marguerite-D'Youville

205
11RNF du Lac-St-François

205
12Rapides Deschênes

204
13Centre d'interprétation de la nature du Lac-Boivin

202
14Domaine de Maizerets

200
15Parc côtier Kiskotuk--Secteur marais du Gros-Cacouna

197
16Parc-nature du Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard

194
17Sentier du littoral

193
18Pointe de Yamachiche

192
19Jardin botanique de Montréal (accès restreint)

190
20PN de Plaisance--Rivière des Outaouais

190
21Ile aux Basques

189
22Marais Léon-Provancher

189
23Parc de la Frayère, Boucherville

189
24George Montgomery Sanctuary

185
25Isle-aux-Coudres

183
26Arboretum Morgan

182
27RNF du cap Tourmente--marais

182
28Ile Ste-Hélène

181
29Parc écologique de l'Anse du Port

181
30Refuge d'oiseaux de St-Vallier

180
31Barachois, Percé

178
32Parc du Haut-Fond

177
33Grandes-Bergeronnes

174
34Bois des cèdres

173
35Parc des Rapides

173
36Marais de St-Timothée

171
37Base de plein air, Québec (Ste-Foy)

169
38Centre de plein air de Beauport

168
39Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies--Secteur des Marais

168
40Récré-O-Parc

168
41PN des Îles-de-Boucherville

167
42PN du Bic--zone générale

167
43Quai, Rivière-Ouelle

166
44Parc-nature du Cap-St-Jacques

165
45Baie de Beauport

164
46Cimetière de Laval/Mt. Pleasant

164
47Rue Horatio Walker, Ste-Pétronille

164
48Bois Ste-Marie

163
49Isle Verte

162
50Parc du Mt-Royal

162
51Bois des Rosiers

161
52Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies--Secteur du Bois-de-l'Héritage

161
53Observatoire d'oiseaux McGill (accès restreint)

160
54PN de Plaisance--Baie Noire (Est & Ouest)

160
55Boisé Ste-Dorothée

159
56Arboretum Stephen-Langevin

158
57PN de Plaisance--Presqu'îles (Grande & Petite)

158
58Cimetières Mt-Royal & Notre-Dame-des-Neiges

157
59Club de Golf Royal Québec (accès restreint hiver)

157
60PN de Plaisance--zone générale

157
61RN du Boisé-Papineau

157
62RNF du cap Tourmente--secteur La Petite Ferme

157
63Barrage, Beauharnois

156
64Parc naturel de la Tourbière-du-Bordelais

156
65Baie, Les Escoumins

155
66Site minier East Sullivan

155
67PN du Bic--Belvédère Raoul-Roy

154
68Parc de la Frayère, Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac

154
69Station d'épuration, Baie-du-Febvre

154
70Dunes

152
71Iles de la Commune et du Mitan

152
72Observatoire d'oiseaux de Tadoussac

152
73Parc historique Pointe-du-Moulin

152
74Ile Pariseau

150
75Parc Summit

150
76RNF du Lac-St-François--Digue aux aigrettes

150
77Marais, St-Étienne-de-Beauharnois

149
78Parc-nature de l'Anse-à-l'Orme

149
79Réservoir Beaudet

149
80Réserve naturelle Gault

148
81Forêt Montmorency

147
82Montée Biggar, Godmanchester

147
83RNF de Pointe-au-Père

147
84Banc de Portneuf-sur-Mer

146
85Bassin de Chambly

146
86Ch. du Vide, St-Onésime-d'Ixworth

146
87Montée Smellie, Godmanchester

146
88Parc de la Gatineau--zone générale

146
89Pointe-des-Monts

146
90Parc des Prairies

141
91Parc nature, Pointe-aux-Outardes

141
92Etang Burbank

140
93PN de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé

140
94Parc Les Marais du Nord

140
95Ch. des Puits, Laterrière

138
96Station d'épuration, Windsor

138
97Hungry Bay

137
98Parc Bon-Air

137
99Parc Olivier-Charbonneau

136
100Route Janelle

Sunday, February 08, 2015

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" February 7

Fourteen birders attended yesterday's field trip to the St Clet/Ste Marthe/ Ste Justine area and were greeted with cold temperatures (-17C) and cloudy skies but thankfully only light winds.

The main target bird for this trip is always Snowy Owls and these northern visitors did not disappoint today. A total of 13 were spotted in the area, many at long distance but several close enough to the roadway for photos. A second species on everyone's wish list is Gray Partridge and we were pleased to find a flock of 8 that after initially flushing from beside a barn played hide and seek in the fluffy new snow with only their heads sticking out. A stop at the MBO Snow Bunting banding site gave us close-up looks at these lovely little birds as they admired their new jewelry. Thanks to Lisa Keelty and Gay McDougall for answering all our questions and their continued dedication to this project. - Wayne Grubert

Our complete list of 20 species was comprised of: Gray Partridge - 8, Wild Turkey - 32, Cooper's Hawk - 1, Rock Pigeon - 130, Mourning Dove - 20, Snowy Owl - 13, Downy Woodpecker - 2, Hairy Woodpecker - 1, Pileated Woodpecker - 1, Blue Jay - 12, American Crow - 20, Common Raven - 1, Black-capped Chickadee - 24, European Starling - 30, Bohemian Waxwing - 2, Dark-eyed Junco - 5, Snow Bunting - 50, American Goldfinch - 40, House Sparrow - 40

Perdrix grise - 8, Dindon sauvage - 32, Épervier de Cooper - 1, Pigeon biset - 130, Tourterelle triste - 20, Harfang des neiges - 13, Pic mineur - 2, Pic chevelu - 1, Grand Pic - 1, Geai bleu - 12, Corneille d'Amérique - 20, Grand Corbeau - 1, Mésange à tête noire - 24, Étourneau sansonnet - 30, Jaseur boréal - 2, Junco ardoisé - 5, Plectrophane des neiges (Bruant des neiges) - 50, Chardonneret jaune - 40, Moineau domestique - 40

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip

Saturday, February 7 – samedi 7 février
Ste-Marthe, St-Clet, Ste-Justine

Guide: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498   e-mail


8:00 a.m. Meet at Hudson Inn, exit 17 off Highway 40. From Montreal, take Highway 40 west towards Ottawa. Allow an hour’s drive from Montreal. Looking for Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Snow Buntings and other open-country winter birds. Bring warm clothes for standing around or taking short walks (or in case weather conditions dictate a complete change of itinerary). We will try to keep the number of cars to a minimum; therefore, car- pooling arranged ahead of time and/or at our rendez-vous point would be greatly appreciated. Half day.

8 h 00 Rassemblement au Hudson Inn, sortie 17 de l’autoroute 40. De Montréal, prendre l’autoroute 40 ouest, en direction d’Ottawa. Prévoir une heure à partir de Montréal. Espèces recherchées : Harfang des neiges, Buse pattue, Bruant des neiges et autres oiseaux d’hiver. Apporter des vêtements suffisamment chauds pour de courtes marches et permettant de passer du temps à l’extérieur; prévoir également d’éventuels changements de plans, dus à la météo. Nous vous encourageons à faire du covoiturage en vue de limiter le nombre de voitures. Demi-journée.

Monday, February 02, 2015

Sightings for Monday February 2

Two Snowy Owls (Harfang des neiges)to report. One on Montee St. Thomas, west of Rigaud, just beyond Montee de la Baie St. Thomas.  The other on Chemin Haute de la Chute, SW of Rigaud at the Quebec/Ontario border. - Bob Barnhurst

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" January 31

Chateauguay, Rue Higgins and Sainte-Catherine Récré-O-Parc

Three people showed up to share a beautiful day (not), to start off the morning at Higgins, -22 C, sunny and not much wind. Species count for both Higgins, 11, and the Récré-O-Parc, 7, were quite low. The Récré-O-Parc at Sainte-Catherine, where we met two others, was a little windy and quite chilly. There was also a mist on the water which hampered views half way out to Ile aux Hérons. We did not see any Gulls at all which we found a little strange.




Rue Higgins: 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 5 Downy Woodpecker, 4 Hairy Woodpecker, 8 Black-capped Chickadee, 3 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Carolina Wren, 2 European Starling, 6 American Tree Sparrow, 2 Dark-eyed Junco, 3 Northern Cardinal, 2 House Sparrow

Récré-O-Parc: 20 Canada Goose, 3 American Black Duck, 50 Mallard, 30 Common Goldeneye, 2 Bald Eagle (imm), 4 American Crow, 1 Black-capped Chickadee


Rue Higgins: 3 Pic à ventre roux, 5 Pic mineur, 4 Pic chevelu, 8 Mésange à tête noire, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 3, 1 Troglodyte de Caroline, 2 Étourneau sansonnet, 6 Bruant Hudsonien, 2 Junco ardoisé, 3 Cardinal rouge, 2x Moineau domestique


Récré-O-Parc: 20 Bernache du Canada, 3 Canard noir, 50 Canard colvert, 30 Garrot à oeil d'or, 2 Pygargue à tête blanche (imm), 4 Corneille d'Amérique, une mésange à tête noire

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Sightings for January 29

Hemmingford: Black-backed woodpecker, a female on Shield, 200 meters north of Williams in a dead pine.
Pic à dos noir, une femelle sur Shield,200 mètres au nord de Williams dans un pin mort.


Noyan: a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on 
montée McCallum. First woods to the right coming from the Richelieu.
Un Pic maculé sur la montée McCallum à Noyan. Premier bois à droite en venant du Richelieu. - Pierre Bannon

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, January 31 – samedi 31 janvier
Chateauguay, Rue Higgins and Sainte-Catherine Récré-O-Parc
https://goo.gl/maps/MWFd2
Guide: Tom Long 450-692-1590
  e-mail

8:00 a.m. Meet at rue Higgins in Châteauguay. At Higgins, the birds to look for will be Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse. But you never know what will show up. One Christmas Bird Count, 22 species were counted there in just over an hour. They included a Carolina Wren and an Eastern Towhee. After checking out the Higgins area, we will go to the Récré-O-Parc in Sainte- Catherine where it will be mostly winter ducks and there may be some surprises. There are no facilities at the Récré-O-Parc. Half day.

From Montreal, take Hwy 138 and cross the Mercier Bridge. Stay right coming off the bridge and take Hwy 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 Blvd. Salaberry Nord. Turn right on to Salaberry Nord and continue to rue Higgins and turn right. There is a small parking area on the left next to the cell-phone tower.

8 h 00 Rendez-vous sur la rue Higgins à Châteauguay où les espèces recherchées sont le Pic à ventre roux et la Mésange bicolore. Mais nous ne pouvons prévoir qui sera au rendez-vous. Lors d’un décompte de Noël, 22 espèces y ont été dénombrées dans un peu plus d’une heure comprenant un Troglodyte de Caroline ainsi qu’un Tohi à flancs roux. Après avoir fait le tour de la rue Higgins, nous irons à la Récré-O-Parc à Sainte-Catherine. Au Récré- O-Parc, nous rencontrerons presqu’exclusivement des canards d’hiver et peut-être quelques autres surprises. Le Récré-O-Parc n’offre aucune installation sanitaire ni de restauration. Demi-journée.

De Montréal, prendre la route 138 et traverser le pont Mercier. Rester à droite en venant du pont et prenez l’autoroute 138 à Kahnawake dans Châteauguay. Lorsque vous entrez dans Châteauguay, tourner à droite sur le boul. St- François. Suivez St.-François jusqu’au bout, en face de la rivière Châteauguay au boul. Salaberry Nord. Tourner à droite sur Salaberry Nord et continuer jusqu’à la rue Higgins et tourner à droite. Il y a un petit parking sur la gauche à côté de la tour de téléphonie cellulaire.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" January 24

It was very convenient that we got a warm break in the weather for yesterday's Urban Birding field trip. Had it been today (Sunday), it would have been a completely different story! 13 birders participated, including three McGill students (two from South Africa and one from Connecticut). We started out from the Costco parking lot at Bridge and Mill Streets in Pointe-St-Charles, heading out to Cite du Havre, where we explored a great extensive park that stretches from Habitat 67 eastward beyond the Concorde Bridge. The narrow spit of land has trails and a number of belvedere style lookouts along both sides of the water. This looks like a park that warrants further investigation at other times of the year. From there we explored the Technoparc area between the Bonaventure Expressway and the rail yards in Pointe-St-Charles. From there we headed to Nuns' Island where we first explored trails on the Pointe-Nord section followed by the wooded trails around the artificial lake on the island. Mild temperatures and light winds made for a very pleasant day of birding.

Our Bird of the Day was a Northern Mockingbird found atop an evergreen tree in the area behind the Bell Complex on Pointe-Nord of Nuns' Island. (Thanks to Doug for his eagle-eye spotting on this one).

We finished the morning with a total of 15 species, including a couple of nice surprises, including a much discussed Cooper's Hawk that we were desperately wanting to turn into a Northern Goshawk. Here is our list for the day - 
Sheldon Harvey

Common Merganser 50, Cooper's Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Herring Gull 1, Great Black-backed Gull 25, Rock Pigeon 200, Downy Woodpecker 8, Hairy Woodpecker 2, Pileated Woodpecker 1, American Crow 12, Black-capped Chickadee 20, White-breasted Nuthatch 3,
Northern Mockingbird 1, Purple Finch (female) 1, House Sparrow 75

Grand Harle 50, l'Épervier de Cooper 1, Buse à queue rousse 1, Goéland argenté 1, Great Black-backed Goéland 25, Pigeon biset 200, Pic mineur 8, Pic chevelu 2, Grand Pic 1, Corneille d'Amérique 12, Mésange à tête noire 20 , Sittelle à poitrine blanche 3, Moqueur polyglotte 1, Roselin pourpré (femelle) 1, Moineau domestique 75

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Great Backyard Bird Count

We've received a reminder from the Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab and Bird Studies Canada that the Great Backyard Bird Count will be held on Valentine's weekend this year. Detailed information is provided below. - Zofia


Join the Great Backyard Bird Count!

 

New York, NY, Ithaca, NY, and Port Rowan, ON —Give Mother Nature a valentine this year and show how much you care about birds by counting them for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The 18th annual count is taking place February 13 through 16.

Anyone in the world can count birds at any location for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count and enter their sightings at www.BirdCount.org. The information gathered by tens of thousands of volunteers helps track changes in bird populations on a massive scale. The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with partnerBird Studies Canada.
  Bird watchers fell in love with the magnificent Snowy Owl during the last count when the birds were reported in unprecedented numbers across southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes states, the Northeast, and down the Atlantic Coast. Expect Snowy Owls to show up in higher numbers during this year’s GBBC, too.

"It’s called an 'echo flight,'" explains Marshall Iliff, eBird Project Leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "After a huge irruption like we had last winter, the following year often yields higher-than-usual numbers as well. The abundance of lemmings that produced last year's Snowy Owl irruption likely continued or emerged in new areas of eastern Canada, more owls may have stayed east after last year's irruption, and some of last year's birds that came south are returning."

"This may also be a big year for finches," notes Audubon Chief Scientist Gary Langham. "GBBC participants in North America should be on the lookout for larger numbers of Pine Siskins and redpolls. These birds also push farther south when pine cone seed crops fail in the far north of Canada."

Bird watchers from 135 countries participated in the 2014 count, documenting nearly 4,300 species on more than 144,000 bird checklists--that's about 43% of all the bird species in the world! In addition to the U.S. and Canada, India, Australia, and Mexico led the way with the greatest number of checklists submitted.

"We especially want to encourage people to share their love of birds and bird watching with someone new this year," says Dick Cannings at Bird Studies Canada. "Take your sweetheart, a child, a neighbor, or a coworker with you while you count birds for the GBBC. Share your passion and you may fledge a brand new bird watcher!"

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with nature and show some love for the birds this Valentine's Day. Participation is free and easy. To learn more about how to join the count, download instructions, a slide show, web buttons, and other materials, visit www.birdcount.org. While you're there, get inspired by the winning photos from the 2014 GBBC photo contest.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, January 24 – samedi 24 janvier
Urban Birding – Sortie Ornithologique Urbaine
https://goo.gl/maps/6eOF3

Guide: Sheldon Harvey 450-462-1459
  e-mail

8:00 a.m. Meet in the Costco parking lot at the corner of Bridge and Mill Streets in the Pointe-St-Charles area of Montreal. We will explore the Cité-du- Havre, Technoparc and CN rail yard areas before continuing on and making some final stops on Nuns’ Island. Looking for resident winter birds in an urban setting. Possibilities include raptors, ravens and mockingbirds. Half day.

8 h 00 Rassemblement dans le stationnement de Costco à l’angle des rues Mill et Bridge dans le quartier de Pointe-St-Charles à Montréal. Nous allons explorer la Cité-du-Havre, le Technoparc et les zones de triage du CN avant de continuer et de faire quelques arrêts sur l’île des Sœurs. Nous serons à la recherche des oiseaux d’hiver résidents en milieu urbain, avec la possibilité de rapaces, de corbeaux et de moqueurs. Demi-journée.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Botanical Gardens Field trip

I plan to be there tomorrow morning. We should meet inside at the reception area where it will be warmer. - David

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Sightings for Tuesday January 13

Montreal: While I was waiting for the 165 bus outside Guy-Concordia metro, I noticed 2 Peregrine Falcons harassing a Red-tailed Hawk (Faucons pèlerin  harceler une Buse à queue rousse)--not a welcome visitor in their opinion! It's not the first time I've seen raptors in the vicinity. A couple of years ago, I was astonished to see a goshawk right outside the metro station, and I've more than once seen Cooper's Hawks from Ste-Catherine Street. 

My guess is that the birds of prey are attracted by the numerous pigeons in the area. In fact, that's often how I first see them: I notice a major pigeon disturbance and then look around to see what, if anything, is causing it. - Zofia Laubitz  

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday 17 January – samedi 17 janvier
Montreal Botanical Garden – Jardin Botanique de Montréal

https://goo.gl/maps/FOQNe


Guide: David Mulholland 514-630-6082   e-mail

8:00 a.m. Meet in front of the restaurant, near the entrance on Sherbrooke St. East. There is a charge for parking inside the gates. Looking for winter finches. Half day.

8 h 00 Rassemblement devant le restaurant, près de l’entrée du jardin sur la rue Sherbrooke Est. Prévoir des frais de stationnement si vous stantionnez à l’intérieur du jardin. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d’hiver. Demi-journée.

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Research Grants

Bird Protection Quebec solicits applications for research grants relating to studies commencing during 2015.

All the information relating to these grants is available on our website in both English and French

http://pqspb.org/bpqpoq/conservation/research-grants/


http://pqspb.org/…/o…/conservation/subventions-de-recherche/



Please note that all applications must be submitted on or before the last day of February 2015

Monday, January 05, 2015

Monthly meeting canceled

With regret, it has been decided to CANCEL this evening’s meeting and talks in light of the poor condition of some roads, the extreme temperatures forecast for this evening and the possibility that one speaker, who is travelling from far out of town , may not be with us.If you are in contact with any other members who may be attending would you please ensure that they are aware of this change.Thank youWith regret, it has been decided to CANCEL this evening’s meeting and talks in light of the poor condition of some roads, the extreme temperatures forecast for this evening and the possibility that one speaker, who is travelling from far out of town , may not be with us.If you are in contact with any other members who may be attending would you please ensure that they are aware of this change.

Thank you

Saturday, January 03, 2015

Bird Protection Quebec "Monthly Lecture, Meeting"

Kensington Presbyterian Church, 6225 Godfrey Ave., Montreal, NDG
Monday, January 5 - 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Charlie Vogt will talk about the advantages of birding in Ecuador, providing an overview of the different regions and tours with a highlight on Southern Ecuador. He will outline the factors and the history that led to such a high species diversity in Ecuador.

Charlie Vogt is the owner of Andean Birding. A native of Boston, he studied biology at Colorado College, and has an MS from Northern Arizona U. He spent twelve summers in Mexico at his father’s Harvard-Chiapas Project – the first summer was with BPQ Board member Nick Acheson – and later worked at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, in Cambridge, MA. In 1990, he directed a highway EA in Ecuador and was hooked. He has guided at Sacha Lodge and with Wilderness Travel in Amazonia and the Galapagos. He has birded since 1974 and has lived in Ecuador for 26 years, doing environmental consulting, teaching tropical ecology to study-abroad students, conducting bird surveys and preparing bird lists for foundations and protected areas in Ecuador and Bolivia. He led two ornithological expeditions to Volcan Sumaco. He found a new bird species for Ecuador and has published on bird behaviour and range extensions. The Banded Ground-Cuckoo was his 1,400th species for Ecuador. His list is now at 1,421. He is an active bird sound recordist with over 640 recordings on Xeno-canto and 42 tracks on Bird sounds of Ecuador – a comprehensive collection by John V. Moore et al.


Travels to Trinidad and Tobago
Presenter: Christine C. Lengvari


Christine Lengvari started birding in South Africa while living in Durban on the Indian Ocean. She has travelled extensively and been on many birding holidays to several exotic destinations: Amazon, Antarctica, Australia, Borneo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Galapagos, and Trinidad and Tobago. T&T is located in the southern Caribbean, just off the east coast of Venezuela. It is a tropical paradise, with a rich biodiversity. It is an outstanding birding destination with both endemic and migratory birds and bird count of over 200. In Trinidad, most travellers stay at Asa Wright Nature Centre, where you don’t have to leave the viewing gallery to enjoy exotic birds to your heart’s content. The estate is famous for the leks of the white-bearded and golden-headed manakins, the bearded bellbird and the nocturnal oilbird. Tobago is just a short stop away, with a variety of different birds and beautiful beaches.

Christine C. Lengvari trained as a chartered accountant and now continues the family business: Lengvari Financial Inc., which provides retirement and estate financial planning. She is an insurance specialist.


From the Sea to the Sky
Presenter: Frédéric Hareau


Discover the incredible richness of birdlife in Peru. Frédéric Hareau will present some of the highlights of his recent trip to Peru: the richness of coastal islands and deserts blooming with flowers, the mighty condor and birding specialties of the high Andes, and the stunning biodiversity of the rain forest and Amazonia, along the legendary Manu Road.

Frédéric Hareau is an active member of the Conservation Committee, a popular field trip leader, and a director. He coordinated the SOSPOP project with BPQ in 2010 and is kept busy with translation for The Song Sparrow and the Web site. He has also done extensive work in conservation for the COA and volunteers at McGill Bird Observatory. At a professional level, he oversees projects implemented in 17 countries and reaching over 1,000 young people every year. These projects focus on the conservation of the environment in Canada and throughout the world. In the past ten years, he has played a leadership role in fundraising over $6 million with the support of co-workers and partners. He has a degree in biology and agriculture, from the Institut National Agronomique of Paris- Grignon, France.


Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park, the Great Northern Peninsula and Labrador
Presenter: Richard Gregson


An introduction to birding, rare arctic flowering and exciting whale-watching in the northern peninsula of Newfoundland, including Gros Morne National Park and Labrador. A less-visited part of the province, which is highly recommended for the range of accessible northern birding that can be enjoyed far from the crowds of everyday tourists but close to the world’s best lobster suppers.

Richard Gregson, Past President of Bird Protection Quebec, is currently a BPQ director, Chair of the Sanctuaries Committee, and Webmaster. He is a biologist with a keen interest in birding – especially greenbirding. He maintains a website for people interested in this alternative way to go birding at www.greenbirding.ca and is the author of a book on the subject called, what else, Green Birding .


Birding in Namibia
(Time permitting)
Presenter: Nick Acheson


Namibia lies along the Atlantic coast between South Africa and Angola. Its lowlands are mostly desert, but the northeastern Caprivi Strip, between Angola and Botswana, is more humid. Etosha Park abounds in large mammals, easily seen at water holes. A recent 18 day trip produced 374 bird species, including several endemics, as well as 46 mammals.

Nick Acheson is a BPQ director and co-Chair of the of the Philipsburg Project Group. He was an avid birdwatcher from the age of ten until other things like work and family took over in his twenties. He finished a Ph.D. in virology at Rockefeller University, spent ten years doing research on viruses in Switzerland and France, and moved to Montreal in 1980, where he joined the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Upon his retirement in 2005, he found time to revive his interest in birds. He also wrote/edited a new textbook on viruses for undergraduate university students.
 
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