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The bird appeared again in front of me not three metres away shouting a harsh, scratchy alarm call in phrases of three notes. It clearly regarded me with some sort of disgust though was not afraid of being obvious and exposed. This was the second time I had seen the species and it confirmed that I hadn’t imagined things the first time (as we birders are prone to doing). Without wanting to give too much away, I saw a combination of bright white eye-ring, heavy pink bill, thrush-like size and pale grey wash across the mantle and breast which gives the bird an appearance like no other in the Sinclair and Langrand’s stunning field guide The Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands. Since this forest of Makira, the largest remaining tract of protected forest left in Madagascar, has rarely been entered let alone surveyed by ornithologists, it is indeed possible that this was a new species. It side-stepped through the mid-canopy and through alarm-calling it drew the attention of other species. I was descended on by a mob of Greenbuls, Madagascar Bulbuls, Brush Warblers, Couas, Cuckoo-rollers, Cuckoo-shrikes, Paradise-Flycatchers and the rightly sought-after Helmet Vanga, complete with monstrous electric blue bill.

The forests of Makira are in the north east of Madagascar, part of what was once an unbroken belt of glorious rainforest that lined Madagascar's eastern coast. Though now reduced to a few poorly protected fragments, Madagascar's rainforests hold world-class birding. For those who don't know Madagascar, it is a lost world: a zoologist's (and birder's) paradise. In any natural or semi-natural habitat in the country, one is likely to encounter bizarre and wonderful species found nowhere else on earth. Madagascar is world-renowned for its unparalleled endemism, and the

Newsletter of Bird Protection Quebec

Editor: Jane Cormack

December 2011Vol. 54-3

Contents ...

1 Birding in Madagascar3 President’s Message6 Winter Bird Monitoring7 Bird Views9 Book Reviews and Recommendations16 Winter Lecture series16 Forthcoming Field trips19 International Birding20 Calendar

Illustration by Toby Nowlan

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birds are no exception. With around 120 endemic species (this number varies depending on yearly taxonomic splits and lumps), Madagascar has more endemic birds than any other country on earth.

While humans may have plundered a few of Mada's more spectacular bird species to extinction, such as the aptly named hippo-sized Elephant Bird, there have been a number of recent triumphs among the ornithological community. Two examples are the recent re-discoveries of the Sakalava Rail and Madagascar Pochard, both thought extinct for over 20 years.

The Sakalava Rail has now been recorded in just three wetland sites along the west coast. Reaching any of them is, to put it lightly, a bit of a challenge. I was prepared to embark on this challenge to see the rail, since it is a particularly odd-looking species. It looks rather like a four-year-old has been given four tubes of acrylic paint and asked to produce a bird. Its bright yellow bill is stuck on to an almost entirely black head and body. Complete with bright pink legs and a red-orange eye, it looks like a diminutive but simple toy. Lac Kinkony is the place to head, though get in touch with BirdlLife International beforehand, who can help advise on the logistics of getting there. It took me three days by excruciatingly uncomfortable

taxi-brousse (jam-packed bush taxi) and pirogue (dugout canoe) to reach the lake and the rails. Drifting in a pirogue way out in the middle of the lake, the second largest water body in the country, I watched a pair of their tiny bodies creeping about the dense lattice phragmites reed stems.

The other success story of recent years, the Madagascar Pochard, was only ever recorded on Lac Alaotra, the largest lake in the country. Since it was declared extinct, it still hasn't been recorded here. However, two years ago, Lily Arison-Rene de Roland, Director of the Peregrine Fund, came across a pair of pochards dabbling blissfully on a very remote volcanic crater lake in the north of the country. That day will always belong to Lily; that euphoric moment when he re-discovered the Madagascar Pochard. To see these ducks in the wild takes almost as much effort as the rail. After two days in a taxi-brousse and a very painful seven-hour journey clinging to the back of a novice motorcyclist, I managed to find my way up to the lake. There, as if dropped into Jurassic Park, I emerged from the rainforest to look out on a perfectly circular lettuce-green lake fringed by three-cornered palms and freckled with all twenty five known wild Madagascar Pochards, dipping and diving as Tufted Ducks might do at my local lake back in Somerset.Any visiting birder to Mada should try and cover a cross-section of habitats, as they are all very different ecosystems, each offering its own unique suite of endemic species. Some excellent birding is to be had in the western deciduous forests of Kirindy and Ankarafantsika. Both offer glimpses of one of my favourite western endemics, the White-breasted Mesite, which whirs and bobs around the forest floor like a clockwork toy.

My favourite birding was, however, south-west around Toliara. This alien landscape, dominated by ten- metre-high thorny Didiereaceae plants (endemic to south-west Mada), most closely resembles the saguaro cactus-dominated deserts of Arizona. From the Long-tailed Ground Roller, resembling a cross between a Rainbow Pitta and a Roadrunner to the Subdesert Mesite, the only bird known to defend territories in groups, and the newly discovered Red-shouldered Vanga, the birds found here are some of the most interesting in the world. The best part is that with the

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Madagascar Pochard (photo - Wikipedia under creative commons licence)

Illustration by Toby Nowlan

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right guide none of them are difficult to track down, though generally only possible either side of the midday period of blistering heat.

Madagascar, though now largely degraded by a booming population in poverty, still holds, in my opinion, the most interesting species on earth. While it's tough to cover everywhere in a few weeks, you can see many of the endemics and experience a fascinatingly different range of habitats. Whatever you do see in Madagascar, the chances are you won't see anything like it anywhere else.

Editor’s Note: We followed a slightly different convention in this article and capitalized all the bird names, regardless of whether they are species, families or groups. Madagascar has a large number of endemic birds and most readers haven’t had a chance to become familiar with them.

Toby Nowlan was a regular on BPQ Field Trips during the 2008-09 season when he was studying Zoology for a year at McGill University whilst working for his BSc in Biological Sciences from Edinburgh University. He has since graduated with First Class Honours in Zoology and is now living near Bristol looking for full-time employment. I first met him on the BPQ Point Pelee trip in May 2009, where he impressed everyone with his all-round passion for anything to do with natural

history. Among his achievements on that trip was locating flying squirrels in the trees above our campsite. It is safe to say that without him these amazing creatures would have gone unnoticed by the rest of us. Toby has led an expedition to Borneo to study the effects of logging on amphibians and reptiles in lowland rainforest. He spent some time in 2010 in Baja California studying the Vaquita porpoise, the rarest marine animal on earth. He has worked on primate censuses on the island of Biako in Equatorial Guinea. When I last met up with him in Montreal in September, he had just returned from Baffin Island where he had been tagging narwhals near Pond Inlet. And he has recently spent four months in the eastern rainforest of Madagascar. He is working on a book about his Madagascar experiences of which this article is a tantalizing foretaste. In his latest email to me (Nov. 14/11) in answer to mine requesting confirmation of details in this bio, he added: "I’m currently getting odd jobs in the wildlife documentary-making world; in fact I write this from a hide I built on a beach in Costa Rica. It's 2:10 am and I'm sitting next to a camera waiting for a jaguar to appear! The cameraman is sleeping next to me."

Biog and photo by Martin Bowman

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Bird-Brained ThoughtsThe President’s Message

In early October, the Board of Directors of BPQ locked themselves away for an intensive weekend retreat during which we looked closely at what we do, what we don’t do and how we can function better as a conservation charity and a birding club. It was hard work and now we have to put into

effect what we decided upon, which will be even harder work. It was also a fascinating experience for everyone who was there and has brought your board together around an achievable rolling plan for the years ahead.

One thing we shall not be doing is spreading ourselves too thinly by trying to answer every call upon our resources that we receive – it is tempting to try to do everything but it simply is not possible and we must learn to say no sometimes. Our guiding principle is “do less, but do it better” and we are going to concentrate on the things that matter to us all, the things we are best placed to achieve and which will best serve the birds. Our renewed purpose will see us concentrating over the next few years on three main areas.

Conservation and Sanctuaries: We will be working to improve the trails, trail maps and birding information at our Philipsburg sanctuary where we are hosts to some fascinating and quite rare species of birds in a rich forested habitat. In a couple of years we will shift focus to the new Alfred Kelly reserve north of Montreal where we are currently working with the NCC and other partners

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to develop management plans … with the result that in a very few years there will be two major bird sanctuaries, one north and one south of Montreal, that will have top-class facilities for visiting birders to enjoy. Of course, you can visit them today but we want to make things better.

Education: This has always been a big interest of ours and we have long had program that take birding to schools and youth groups. Going forward we will be extending our educational activities by coordinating all those things we do such as field trips, lectures, courses and publications such that we help the maximum number of members of the public to know more about, and thereby appreciate better, our birds and the places that birds inhabit. When people know about birds, they tend to want to protect them.

Research Support: Every year we invite applications from scientists for financial support of their research studies. We have developed close ties to long term research projects such as the McGill Bird Observatory on the West Island and the Tadoussac Bird Observatory amongst others. We hope to be able to continue and extend this work so that knowledge of birds in general and Quebec birds in particular is enhanced.

Meanwhile we continue to run our popular weekly field trips. We encourage all birders to come and meet us and the birds in the company of some expert ornithologists who will help you see and understand so much more in places to which you may not have been before.

One vitally important thing that BPQ does is to organize the annual Christmas Bird Counts centred on Montreal and Hudson. These gather bird population data for our area that, together with the data from preceding decades (we have been at this a long time) builds a picture down the years of rises and falls in the numbers of birds that live here in winter and build an understanding of the many environmental and other factors that affect bird populations today. If you would like to take part – and we encourage you to do so – you will find information on our website about how to help [http://goo.gl/eopg6]

I wish you all good winter birding. It’s certainly my favourite time to get out and enjoy our birds – make it yours too.

Message du Président Au début du mois d’octobre, les membres du conseil d'administration de POQ se sont rencontrés lors d’une retraite intensive au cours de laquelle nous avons regardé de près ce que nous faisons, ce que nous ne faisons pas et comment

nous pouvons mieux fonctionner en tant qu’un organisme de bienfaisance en conservation et club d'ornithologie. Ce travail a été ardu et maintenant nous avons à mettre en œuvre ce que nous avons décidé de faire. Une tâche encore plus difficile! Cette retraite fût une expérience fascinante pour tous ceux et celles présents et en a résulté un plan d’action réaliste pour les années à venir.

Une chose que nous avons compris à ne pas faire est de travailler sur trop de projets à la fois résultant de chaque demande que nous recevons – c’est tentant d'essayer de tout faire, mais ce n’est tout simplement pas possible et nous devrons apprendre à parfois dire non. Notre ligne directrice est la suivante : «en faire moins mais le faire mieux» et nous allons nous concentrer sur les projets qui comptent pour nous tous, les projets auxquels nous sommes les mieux placés pour les réaliser et qui vont avoir le meilleur impact sur les oiseaux. Notre nouvelle vision pour les prochaines années se concentrera sur trois sujets.

Conservation et sanctuaires : Nous allons travailler pour améliorer les installations pour les visiteurs, les cartes de sentiers et l'information ornithologique à notre sanctuaire de Philipsburg, un habitat forestier riche qui est occupé par des espèces d’oiseaux fascinantes et très rares. Dans quelques années, nous allons réorienter nos priorités vers la nouvelle réserve Alfred Kelly au nord de Montréal, où nous travaillons actuellement avec CNC et d'autres partenaires pour élaborer un plan de gestion. Donc, nous pourrons compter sur deux grands sanctuaires d'oiseaux, un au nord et un au sud de Montréal. Ces sanctuaires auront des

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installations de première classe pour les ornithologues qui les fréquentent. Bien sûr, vous pouvez les visiter dès aujourd'hui, mais nous aimerions améliorer ces endroits dans le futur.

Éducation : L’éducation a toujours été une grande priorité pour nous et depuis longtemps nous avons des programmes d’introduction à l’ornithologie dans les écoles et pour divers groupes de jeunes. Dorénavant, nous allons étendre nos activités éducatives en coordonnant tout ce que nous faisons (excursions, conférences, cours, publications) afin de mieux rejoindre le public. Les gens étant mieux éduqués, ils sauront ainsi mieux apprécier nos oiseaux et leurs habitats et par conséquent ils seront portés à vouloir les protéger.

Soutenir la recherche : Chaque année, nous recevons des demandes de soutiens financiers pour des projets de la part de la communauté scientifique. Nous avons développé des liens étroits et à long terme pour des projets de recherche tels que l'Observatoire de McGill Bird dans l’ouest de Montréal et l’observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac. Nous espérons être en mesure de poursuivre et d'étendre ce travail afin que nos connaissances sur les oiseaux en général et les oiseaux du Québec en particulier s’améliorent.

Nous continuons d’organiser nos populaires excursions hebdomadaires. Nous encourageons tous les ornithologues amateurs à venir se joindre à nous et à nos ornithologues chevronnés qui vous aideront à voir et à en apprendre davantage sur les oiseaux et cela dans des endroits des plus inusités.

POQ organise aussi les décomptes annuels des oiseaux de Noël centrés sur Montréal et Hudson. Ces données sur les populations d'oiseaux de notre région combinées avec celles des décennies précédentes (il y a très longtemps que nous faisons ces recensements) nous donnent une image des hausses et des baisses du nombre d'oiseaux qui vivent ici en hiver et ce, au fil des années. Cela nous permet aussi de comprendre les nombreux facteurs environnementaux qui affectent les populations d'oiseaux d'aujourd'hui. Si vous souhaitez contribuer à ces recensements, vous trouverez de l’information notre site [LINK]. Nous vous encourageons fortement à vous impliquer.

Je vous souhaite à toutes et tous des belles observations d’oiseaux cet hiver. C'est vraiment mon moment préféré pour sortir et profiter de nos oiseaux. J’espère que vous en profiterez aussi.

2012 Parking Permit for Montreal Nature ParksIf you go birding in Montreal’s network of nature parks, you probably know that the daily parking rate is currently $7. An annual parking permit allows unlimited parking in any of the following parks: L’Anse-à-l’Orme, Cap-Saint-Jacques, Bois-de-l’Île-

Bizard, Bois-de-Liesse, Île-de-la-Visitation, and Pointe-aux-Prairies. The price is $50 for the first vehicle, $40 for each additional vehicle registered at the same address. The 2012 permit is available now, so people buying in December will benefit.

For more information, contact: Philippe Murphy, Préposé à la perception des revenus, Ville de Montréal, Direction des grands parcs et du verdissement, Division de la gestion de l’entretien et des operations des parcs, 801 rue Brennan – pavillon Duke, 4e étage, bureau 4146, Montréal, QC, H3C 0G4. To pay by credit card, telephone him at: 514-280-6766.

New DirectorsAll members are welcome to get involved as volunteers and in the nomination of new Directors for the BPQ Board.

The deadline for nominations for the 2012-2014 term of office is April 16, 2012.

For more information, visit http://goo.gl/UImmp

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EC Winter Bird Monitoringby Marcel Gahbauer

In November 2011, McGill Bird Observatory (MBO) launched the Feeder Bird Study, an attempt to learn more about the local winter movements of common backyard bird species. In

the first phase of the study, the focal species are American Goldfinch and House Finch; all individuals banded at MBO in winter receive a black band with a unique two-character code that can be read from a moderate distance with binoculars (or using the zoom on a digital camera). Public participation is critical to the success of this project — with your help, we can document the areas frequented by particular individuals and explore whether patterns of movement differ by age or sex in the species we are studying.

Background:Although both American Goldfinches and House Finches are present year-round in the Montreal area, banding results at MBO suggest that these species may not be as resident as they appear at first glance. Between 2004 and 2010, 1,157 American Goldfinches and 189 House Finches were banded at MBO, but the rate of recapture of both species has been much lower than expected, especially during winter when there appears to be a surprising amount of turnover in the flocks frequenting our feeders.

Objectives:The primary aim of the Feeder Bird Study is to learn about the local movements of common urban bird species. By compiling sightings of uniquely marked individuals, we hope to be able to describe the extent of territories, and compare whether these vary by species, age or sex, and also how patterns of occurrence differ by season. A better understanding of these local movements may help with refining population estimates and the extent to which these species may actually be migratory.

Methods:The Winter Bird Monitoring Program at MBO spans the period from October 31 to March 27. During this period, volunteers maintain a set of feeders on site. Banding occurs periodically throughout the season, although limited to milder periods of

weather. All birds banded receive a standard aluminum band, while American Goldfinches and House Finches also get a colour band on the other leg. For the winter of 2011-2012, this is a black band with two white alphanumeric characters.

How to help:MBO volunteers track sightings of all marked birds that return to the feeders on site, but more critical to the success of this program is knowing where these individuals go once they leave MBO. If you see a colour-banded finch at your own feeders or elsewhere, please visit http://www.migrationresearch.org/mbo/feederbirds.html to provide us with details on your observation. Although we expect that the majority of sightings will occur in Montreal and surrounding areas, we suspect some individuals will range over great distances, so we welcome reports from anywhere. You can also support the project by "adopting" one or more of our marked birds.

This project was made possible by a grant from Bird Protection Quebec.

Seed for this project was generously provided by CCFA – Nature Expert.

House Finch #1A - the first to be banded (photo Simon Duval)

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EC Bird ViewsA summary of interesting bird sightings in Montréal and around the province - by Pierre Bannon

August-September 2011

Mute Swan: singles at Île Charron 2 Aug (Y. Gauthier) and at Rosemère 16 Aug (DJ. Léandri). Trumpeter Swan: singles at Val d’Or 18 Aug (R. Ladurantaye) and in La Mauricie NP 16 Sept (S. Bouchard, H. Royer). Eurasian Wigeon: one in the Magdalen Is. 28 Sept (A. Richard). Manx Shearwater: 2 at Île Rouge, near Tadoussac 15 Sept (R. Pintiaux, S. Guérin).

White-faced Ibis: one at Yamachiche 12 Aug (J. Gélinas et al.) and again 20 Aug (ph., M. Amyot et al.), only the 4th provincial record. Purple Gallinule: one juv. at Sherbrooke 8-27 Sept, a lengthy stopover (ph., S. Brûlotte, m. ob.). American Golden-Plover: breeding was confirmed in Aug near Puvirnituq in the Nunavik where the species had been reported in summer 2002 and 2003. Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpiper were also present in the same area (M. Robert). Marbled Godwit: singles at Sept-Îles 27 Aug (JF. Laporte, C. Couture et al.) and at Hope 18 Sept (D. Mercier et al.). Western Sandpiper: one at Kamouraska 8 Sept (R. & F. Dion). Buff-breasted Sandpiper: about 20 birds reported. Short-billed Dowitcher: one ssp hendersoni in breeding plumage at Sainte-Martine 2-4 Aug (M. Bertrand et al.). Long-billed Dowitcher . one at Kamouraska 3 Sept, the only one reported (F. Lachance, P. Otis, A. Rasmussen).

Sabine’s Gull: reported quite regularly near Tadoussac in Sept. Singles were also reported at Beauharnois 6-17 Sept (M. Bertrand, J. François, m. ob.) and at Deschênes 17-20 Sept (R. Dubois). Black-headed Gull: one seen regularly at Les Escoumins throughout the period (m. ob.); up to 30, including juveniles, were more expected at Havre-aux-Basques 21 Aug (S. Denault, O. Barden). Franklin’s Gull: singles at Victoriaville 13-17 Aug (C. Roy), and at Les Escoumins 16 Aug (JG. Beaulieu). Long-tailed Jaeger: several sightings were made, mainly in the Tadoussac area. Eurasian Collared-Dove: up to 4 indiv continued at Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville throughout the period

Parlons d’oiseauxUn bilan des observations intéressantes à Montréal et à travers la province - par Pierre Bannon

Août-septembre 2011

Cygne tuberculé  : des individus à l’Île Charron 2  août (Y.  Gauthier) et à Rosemère 16  août (DJ. Léandri). Cygne trompette : des indiv à Val d’Or 18 août (R. Ladurantaye) et au Parc de la Mauricie 16 sept (S. Bouchard, H. Royer). Canard siffleur : un aux IDLM 28 sept (A. Richard). Puffin des Anglais : 2 à l’Île Rouge, près de Tadoussac 15 sept (R. Pintiaux, S. Guérin).

Ibis à face blanche : un à Yamachiche 12 août (J. Gélinas et al.) revu le 20 août (ph., M. Amyot et al.), la 4ième présence seulement au Québec. Talève violaçé : un juv à Sherbrooke 8-27 sept, une présence prolongée (ph., S. Brûlotte, pl. ob.). Pluvier bronzé : nidification confirmée en août près de Puvirnituq au Nunavik où l’espèce avait été signalée durant l’été en 2002 et 2003. Le Bécasseau variable et le Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée ont aussi été repérés dans cette région (M. Robert). Barge marbrée : des indiv à Sept-Îles 27 août (JF. Laporte, C. Couture et al.) et à Hope 18 sept (D. Mercier et al.). Bécasseau d’Alaska : un à Kamouraska 8 sept (R. & F. Dion). Bécasseau roussâtre : environ 20 indiv signalés. Bécassin roux : un oiseau en plumage nuptial de la ssp hendersoni à Sainte-Martine 2-4 août (M. Bertrand et al.). Bécassin à long bec : un à Kamouraska 3 sept, le seul signalé (F. Lachance, P. Otis, A. Rasmussen).

Mouette de Sabine : signalée régulièrement près de Tadoussac en sept. Des oiseaux observés aussi à Beauharnois 6-17 sept (M. Bertrand, J. François, pl. ob.) et à Deschênes 17-20 sept (R. Dubois). Mouette rieuse : une vue régulièrement à Les Escoumins durant la période (pl. ob.); jusqu’à 30, incluant des juvéniles, à Havre-aux-Basques 21 août (S. Denault, O. Barden). Mouette de Franklin : des individus à Victoriaville 13-17 août (C. Roy), et à Les Escoumins 16 août (JG. Beaulieu). Labbe à longue queue : quelques présences signalées, surtout dans la région de Tadoussac. Tourterelle turque : jusqu’à 4 individus toujours présents à Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville pendant la période

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(m. ob.). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 3 birds reported between 18 and 26 Sept.

Say’s Phoebe: singles were at Pointe-au-Père 9-11 Sept (S. Morand, Y. Gauthier, m. ob.), at Métabetchouan 10 Sept (J. Rousseau, C. Bellemare), and at Sept-Îles 18 Sept (F. Rousseu, M. Forest-Tremblay), certainly a record number in such a short period for this western species. Carolina Wren: an adult was feeding 3 young at Iberville 4 Aug (S. Rioux et al.); one seen at Baie-Saint-Paul 12 Aug had apparently been present since last spring (L. Rousseau, N. Burgdorfer). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 4 birds reported including one at Tadoussac 20 Sept (T. Biteau et al.) and one at Port-Cartier 21 Sept (RL. Dumais). Northern Wheatear: one at L’Anse-Pleureuse 20 Sept (A. Coughlan). Bicknell’s Thrush: a hatch-year bird was banded at the McGill Bird Observatory, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, 26 Sept, the third to be banded in the history of this station (ph., S. Duval).

Prothonotary Warbler: one at Québec City 28 Sept (S. Beaucher). Worm-eating Warbler: one at Cap Tourmente 10 Sept (L. Belleau). Lark Sparrow: one at Tadoussac 19 Sept fell a prey to Sharp-shinned Hawk the next morning (S. Denault). It was the 4th record for Tadoussac since 2003.

Please report your interesting bird observations to: Pierre Bannon, 1517 Leprohon, Montréal, Qc H4E 1P1. Tel: 5 1 4 - 7 6 6 - 8 7 6 7 a f t e r 7 : 0 0 p . m . o r b y E - m a i l a t pbannon@videotron.ca

(pl. ob.). Coulicou à bec jaune: 3 individus signalés entre le 18 et le 26 sept.

Moucherolle à ventre roux : des individus à Pointe-au-Père 9-11 sept (S. Morand, Y. Gauthier, pl. ob.), Métabetchouan 10 sept (J. Rousseau, C. Bellemare), et Sept-Îles 18 sept (F. Rousseu, M. Forest-Tremblay), sûrement un nombre record de cette espèce de l’Ouest pour une si courte période. Troglodyte de Caroline : un adulte nourrissant 3 jeunes à Iberville 4 août (S. Rioux et al.); un à Baie-Saint-Paul 12 août, apparemment présent depuis le printemps (L. Rousseau, N. Burgdorfer). Gobemoucheron gris-bleu : 4 oiseaux signalés incluant un à Tadoussac 20 sept (T. Biteau et al.) et un à Port-Cartier 21 sept (RL. Dumais). Traquet motteux : un à L’Anse-Pleureuse 20 sept (A. Coughlan). Grive de Bicknell : un jeune de l’année bagué à l’observatoire d’oiseaux McGill, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, 26 sept, le 3ième dans l’histoire de cette station (ph., S. Duval).

Paruline orangée : une à Québec 28 sept (S. Beaucher). Paruline vermivore : une à Cap Tourmente 10 sept (L. Belleau). Bruant à joues marron : un à Tadoussac 19 sept a servi de repas à un Épervier brun le lendemain matin (S. Denault). Il s’agissait de la 4ième mention pour Tadoussac depuis 2003.

Veuillez communiquer vos observations intéressantes à: Pierre Bannon, 1517 Leprohon, Montréal, Qc H4E 1P1. Tél: 514-766-8767 en soirée. Courriel: pbannon@videotron.ca

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Education CommitteeBPQ’s Education Committee would like to help with expenses for any teen who is interested in attending the Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists' Workshop in Long Point, Ontario in August 2012.

For more information go to the Bird Studies Canada website at (http://goo.gl/j3HGH ) and then contact Barbara MacDuff at 514-457-2222, barb.macduff@sympatico.ca

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Book Reviews

A few of our long-term members and frequent contributors to The Song Sparrow were asked to tell us about a book or two that they have found inspiring and would like to recommend to other birders and readers.

If you have a book you would like to tell us about, contact the editor at cormakjane@gmail.com We will publish a selection of the best in upcoming issues.

Jean Bacon recommends

An Enchantment of BirdsMemories of a birder’s life

Richard CanningsGreystone Books, Douglas & McIntyre Publishing Group, Vancouver/Toronto/Berkeley

In this charming book, Dick Cannings describes the characteristics of various bird species and the context in which he has seen or studied them. At the same time, he paints a vivid picture of his childhood and of a life devoted to the natural world. He is a wildlife biologist and ecologist, and has been an active birder all his life. He is well-known to Canadian birders as an organizer of breeding bird surveys and population censuses. He is also the Bird Studies Canada coordinator of the Audubon Christmas Bird Counts.

Each chapter of An Enchantment of Birds is a vignette of an individual bird species. These vignettes provide a wealth of insights into the anatomy, evolution, habits and behaviour of the respective species. At the same time, the author evokes specific landscapes and environments, most of which are in British Columbia, his home province. The style of writing is lively and eloquent, and the book is illustrated with attractive line drawings. It is extremely readable and brimming with fascinating

ornithological facts and interesting anecdotes. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys nature, birding and fine writing.

How to be a “Bad” BirdwatcherTo the greater glory of life

Simon BarnesShort Books, London

This book is great fun and an inspiration to novice and and old hand alike. The author defines “bad birdwatcher” as "anybody who enjoys birds without any pretension of expertise."The book opens with Simon Barnes claiming to be a bad birdwatcher, but acknowledging that he is world-class when it comes to enjoying birds.

Simon Barnes is the chief sportswriter for The Times of London, but, when he’s not reporting on football, rugby or cricket, he adores looking at birds whenever and wherever he can. Watching

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birds has become an integral part of his life. In an interview in The Sunday Times (of London) when this book came out, he stated that “the aim of my book is to allow people to set free the birdwatcher within.” Whilst it is true that much of this book is persuasively directed at the uninitiated, the pleasure that Simon Barnes finds in birding and the natural environment is contagious and something that all birders can identify with. As in An Enchantment of Birds, we learn a lot about what makes him tick, as well as plenty of information about birds.

Simon Barnes is not at all a birder of the twitcher variety. His stated philosophy is that “just looking at birds is one of life’s greatest pleasures.” His easy style of writing is a joy, also. His book is beautifully written, and adorned with jaunty little line drawings. It is full of wry humour and is a fun and stimulating read. This book could inspire a latent birder and entertain the most seasoned kind. A caveat for Canadian readers: the book is a bit “Brit-centric”, but its fundamental message can be appreciated the world over.

Michel Bertrand vous propose:

Birds of North America and Greenland de Norman Arlott

Princeton University Press, 2011

Un tout nouveau livre sur nos oiseauxIl devait être disponible à partir du 23 octobre et je l'avais commandé en pré-vente pour 12$ (prix réduit encore en vigueur). Je l'ai reçu quatre jours en avance. Je parle de Birds of North America and Greenland de Norman Arlott qui est publié dans la série des Princeton Illustrated Checklists, une collection très utile pour nous informer succinctement sur les oiseaux de la plupart des parties de notre planète (Antilles, Amérique centrale, Amérique du Sud, paléarctique, diverses portions de l’Afrique, îles du Pacifique).

Il était question du néarctique dans la publicité et j'espérais voir enfin arriver sur le marché un ouvrage livrant ce qu'il promet en s'annonçant comme un livre sur les oiseaux de l'Amérique du Nord. J'ai été déçu sur ce point. Le titre de ce nouveau livre n'est pas plus honnête que ceux de ses devanciers et, comme eux, il omet la portion nord-américaine du Mexique. Il n'y a donc toujours pas, sur le marché, de livre couvrant la totalité de l'avifaune néarctique ou nord-américaine, malgré le recours répété à des titres fallacieux par divers éditeurs. C'est dommage. Avec quelques pages en plus, ce nouveau livre se serait davantage démarqué en apportant quelque chose de nouveau dans le paysage des guides ornithologiques.

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Ce livre a cependant du mérite. Il est conforme au modèle déjà utilisé par Arlott pour ses illustrated checklists sur les oiseaux du paléarctique et des Antilles, présentant dans un livre très concis une iconographie de qualité (déclassant les dessins rudimentaires de Van Perlo pour des livres semblables). Arlott est un génie pour faire court et complet, tout en maintenant un excellent niveau de qualité. Ses livres présentent toutes les espèces des territoires concernés dans le format de vrais livres de poche. Trouvant facilement sa place dans la poche arrière d’un jean, son dernier livre est de loin le plus petit des guides sur nos oiseaux. Il traite de plus de 900 espèces en les montrant dans leurs plumages principaux, à l'exclusion du plumage juvénile. Une petite carte de distribution est incluse pour toutes les espèces qui ont une aire de distribution illustrable ainsi qu'un bref texte, de trois à neuf lignes, signalant certaines caractéristiques peu ou pas visibles sur les dessins, décrivant les chants et les cris et ajoutant quelques notes sur la distribution des oiseaux concernés.

Le livre n'est pas un véritable field guide et il ne rivalise pas avec le Sibley de 2000, avec la 6e édition du NGS qui vient de paraître, ni avec le Stokes de 2010 qui traitent avec beaucoup plus de détails de l'ensemble des oiseaux du Canada et des USA, mais il est beaucoup plus léger. Il saura satisfaire aux besoins des personnes qui souhaitent une présentation de qualité de la totalité de notre avifaune dans un minimum de petites pages. Parmi les personnes à qui il peut être utile, il y a celles qui possèdent seulement un guide québécois ou un guide pour l’est du continent. Pour tous les amateurs d’oiseaux, il peut constituer un guide complémentaire particulièrement économique.Il y a bien le Bécasseau roussâtre qui est peu reconnaissable, le Butor d'Amérique qui est trop roux et quelques erreurs de détails comme la continuité entre les rayures du cou et celles du côté de la poitrine chez le Plongeon du Pacifique, mais il y a très peu de cette sorte d'imprécisions et, de toute façon, on en trouve dans tous les guides. Arlott donne de très justes représentations de presque tous les oiseaux qu'il peint et il sait y ajouter, dans ses brefs textes, les renseignements les plus essentiels. C'est déjà beaucoup.

Voilà un livre à posséder, donc, autant pour son utilité que pour notre plaisir. J'aimerais maintenant un pareil illustrated checklist

pour l'ensemble du territoire asiatique situé au sud du paléarctique...

Michel Bertrand is composing an article with Pierre Bannon to update us on the Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas. Look for it in the next issue of The Song Sparrow.

Bob Barnhurst recommends

Greenshanks by Desmond and Maimie Nethersole-Thompson

T & AD Poyser, 1979

Desmond Nethersole-Thompson was already a legend in the ornithology world by the time I read this book. He and his young family were particularly famous for their decades-long study of the Greenshank, a Eurasian shorebird found breeding in northern Scotland. Being a lover of the place, I was fascinated by the

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descriptive text and very readable prose. Situated in Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty (now Wester Ross), the Nethersole-Thompson’s fieldwork fascinates, amazes and inspires ― it certainly did so for me. Perhaps it was this one book alone that set me on a course of study of birds, rather than just birdwatching, and I haven’t stopped since then. Clear and concise and full of detail, it is the perfect starting point for a budding field ornithologist, finely demonstrating the right way to do things, while protecting the very bird you are studying. Bravo.

Nick Acheson recommends

Hummingbirds of Costa Ricaby Michael and Patricia Fogden

Firefly Books, 2006

This book describes and illustrates with stunning colour photographs 44 of the 45 species of hummingbirds known to breed in Costa Rica. It is a must for anyone contemplating a birding trip to Costa Rica, or simply curious about these incredibly colourful, tiny birds. The first half of the book describes the anatomy, behaviour, and feeding strategies of hummingbirds, as well as their adaptations to seasonal and climatic changes. This part is packed with interesting information and every page is illustrated with colour photos. Some hummingbird species find a good flowering tree and defend it against all comers; others hide out nearby and make quick surreptitious raids on those trees; others make a tour of an area, feeding at a series of flowers. The second half of the book devotes one or two pages to each of the 44 species covered, with information on range, special behavior, and flowers that are preferred sources of food. Most species have at least one magnificent half-page or full-page photo, with iridescent gorgets showing off their bright colours. Appendices list the species covered along with Latin and Spanish names, identify the flowers shown in each photograph, and show the main localities where each hummingbird can be found in Costa Rica.

Jean De Marre vous propose:

Peter MatthiessenThe Birds of Heaven: Travels with Cranes.

North Point Press, New York

Sur les quinze espèces de grues vivant actuellement sur notre planète, onze seraient menacées ou en déclin.

Tout ce que les grues font, elles semblent le faire de façon assurée, consciente et gracieuse. «Il y a les oiseaux et il y a les grues, comme il y a les singes et l’homme».

La grue du Canada (Grus Canadensis) voyage en migration à 1500 m d’altitude et peut s’élever en planant beaucoup plus haut. Ce

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qui n’est pas impressionnant quand on la compare à sa cousine eurasienne (Grus grus) et la grue demoiselle (Anthropoïdes virgo) qui pour traverser l’Himalaya deux fois par an en migration de la Sibérie à l’Inde doivent voyager à des altitudes d’au moins 4 000 m.

L’écriture de Peter Matthiessen, sa vision, son style tout aussi poétique que scientifique, ses observations et ses témoignages émouvants me paraissent extrêmement respectueux envers ses lecteurs autant qu’envers les sujets abordés.

Nous voyageons avec lui sur tous les continents (excepté l’Amérique du sud, les grues y étant absentes) à la rencontre des 15 espèces de grues d’une façon intime et profondément sentie.Mais il dépasse de loin l’anecdote, car plongé dans le contexte social, géographique, mythique et culturel, l’intérêt porté aux grues est profondément lié à ce que nous sommes nous-mêmes, les humains, comme êtres vivants sur notre planète.

Les illustrations de Robert Bateman sont un ajout agréable et informatif de qualité.

L’édition de ce livre date de 2001. On peut trouver des informations précises et plus récentes au sujet des grues en visitant des sites tels : http://www.savingcranes.org/ (International Crane Foundation);http://www.operationmigration.org

Zofia Laubitz recommends:

The Feather Quest, Pete Dunne. Mariner Books, 1999 Kingbird Highway, Kenn Kaufman. Mariner Books, 2000

The “big year” book has been a recognized subgenre of birding literature for quite some time―since well before the book of that name (let alone the movie) appeared on the scene. The first big year book I read, though not the first to be published, was Pete Dunne’s The Feather Quest. I read it not long after the second

edition came out in 1999, and I was enthralled. I started fantasizing about doing a big year myself, and I rhapsodized over the book to birding friends and acquaintances. It was while I was doing just that at a nature festival that someone said, “But have you read Kenn Kaufman’s Kingbird Highway? I think it’s even better―and it’s much funnier.” I soon acquired that book too and I was hooked again!

Other than describing North American big years, the two books are very different. But both have inspired me to daydream about abandoning my work, putting my furniture in storage, and taking off to spend a year birding. I haven’t done a big year yet. Maybe I never will. But thanks to these books and others like them, I can dream.

Marcel Gahbauer recommends:

Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds by Scott Weidensaul

North Point Press, 1999

Scott Weidensaul has authored a number of excellent books on natural history, with themes ranging from the history of North American birding to the plight of endangered species, all of them meticulously researched and eloquently written. One particular title stands out for me though, his 1999 book Living on the Wind, which was actually nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in the non-fiction category. Admittedly I may be somewhat biased given my own

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fascination with migration. However, what sets the book apart is the ease with which Weidensaul weaves anecdotes from his own research and travel with the science of migration. The result is a highly engaging narrative, with tangents into aspects of migration research serving to provide context for the personal experiences he chooses to highlight. Weidensaul has divided the book into three sections, “Southbound”, “Hiatus”, and “Northbound”, each containing five chapters that focus on different themes regarding the paths followed and challenges

faced by migrants. A 24-page section at the back of the book expands on footnotes from the text and provides a bibliography for each chapter, and is followed by a detailed index. I highly recommend this book both as a great read and as a reference.

PS: I had just finished writing this summary when I received word that last night at his banding station in Pennsylvania, Scott recaptured a Northern Saw-whet Owl that I banded at McGill Bird Observatory last October!

Steve Charlton recommends:

Birding on Borrowed TimePhoebe Snetsinger and H. Douglas PrattAmerican Birding Association, 2003

When I think of bird books which were “inspirational," one stands out in my mind: Birding on Borrowed Time. In 1981, an enthusiastic birder from St. Louis was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and was given about a year to live. She decided that, as long as she could, she would dedicate herself to seeing as many species of birds in the world as her health would allow.

Instead of succumbing to despair, she lived her passion ― travelling to see new birds. She actually lived 17 more years, and during that time, Phoebe Snetsinger became the world’s number one lister, passing 8,000 species seen. She was killed in the end, not by cancer, but rather in a motor accident on a birding trip in Madagascar in 1999, doing what she loved best. At her time of death, she had seen more species of birds than anyone else in history, over 8,400!

I first met Phoebe on a pelagic trip out of Monterey, and then again in 1984 sharing three marvellous weeks of birding with her and four dozen others on that remote and forlorn birding mecca called Attu. She was a humble but well-spoken woman who kept careful notes, and she shared many birding stories with us on that island when miserable weather prevented us from birding. The last time I talked with her was after a birding trip into Burma (Myanmar) in 1985 ― it was at the Rangoon airport. As she sat beside me, she admitted that she was debating whether to continue onward to Hong Kong, or to return to the States ― her melanoma had returned. As it turned out, she continued on ― carpe diem! We exchanged Christmas cards for a few years after that. She was always an inspiration and a remarkable lady. I don’t know what the female equivalent is of “gentleman” but she was certainly it!

Reading her memoirs brought back great memories ― of travelling, of birding, and of simply appreciating and enjoying this thing called life! Yes indeed ― carpe diem!

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Richard Gregson recommends:

The Curse of the Labrador Duckby Prof. Glen Chilton

Harper-Collins, 2009

This book, subtitled "My Obsessive Quest to the Edge of Extinction", concerns one biologist's lifelong determination to see every extant stuffed specimen in the world of the now extinct Labrador Duck. A duck that can tenuously be linked to BPQ as there is a record of it being seen by no less a person than Audubon himself in the bay that holds our Île-aux-Perroquets sanctuary.

Dr. Chilton, a renowned ornithologist and behavioural ecologist, developed an obsession with this dead duck, visiting 30 cities and travelling over 130,000 km in his search for samples to study. The book is funny, engaging, endlessly fascinating, full of information you never knew you needed (but will be glad of when you have it),

replete with wonderful characters and, yes, inspiring. Why inspiring? Because it reminds us that once we start to discover birds and move beyond the mere ticking of exotica, there are many tempting alleys and by-ways to wander down and that none of these diversions should be dismissed if only because one of Canada's professional biologists has thought it worthwhile to go there too. It reminds me to follow what interests me and not to be put off by people rolling their eyes and thinking me to be crazy. However bizarre your interest, if it leads to new knowledge and

holds your attention, it is worth pursuing. No time spent on the Labrador Ducks of the world can ever be said to have been wasted.

I encourage you all to acquire and read this wonderful book (I had it as a Christmas gift and it filled the gaps between goose and brandy most entertainingly) and then look out for the Labrador Duck in your life ― however weird you and others might think it to be. Having this sort of enquiring mind and letting it lead you where it will is ultimately what biology, let alone birding, is all about.

New MembersWarm greetings to new members: Bronwyn Chester from Montréal, Sheila Fischman & Donald Winkler from Montréal, and Sharon Hayden & Mathias Mutzl from Pincourt. We look forward to seeing you on our field trips and at our monthly meetings. Good Birding!

Reminders: Mark your Calendars!

Christmas Bird Counts

Montreal - December 17th Contact Sheldon Harvey at: 450-462-1459

ve2shw@yahoo.com or Barbara Szabo at: 514-735-9812 aha@videotron.ca

Hudson - December 27th. Contact Jean Demers jeandemers@sympatico.ca

** Ongoing FeederWatch programs: (November 18 to April 6)To participate in the Feederwatch program of Les Amis de la Montagne on Mount Royal,call 514-843-8240 ext. 242

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BPQ’s 2012 Winter Lecture Series

Autumn has been glorious this year, but winter will be here all too soon; however, it does mean that birders can look forward to the 2012 season of the

BPQ Winter Lecture Series! BPQ Membership Services is very pleased to announce that (once again) we have been able to call upon the services of a terrific slate of experts to help you expand your knowledge of birds, and improve your birding skills. Come to all or some of our winter bird course lectures, to be held on alternate Wednesdays in February and March 2012. Mark these dates in your agenda!

February 8“A Drift of Buntings” An overview of the Snow Bunting

With Simon Duval & Gay McDougall GrunerFebruary 22“Rise and Shine, It’s Dark Outside!”The secret lives of Whip-poor-wills and Common Nighthawks

With Gregory RandMarch 7**“Let’s Enjoy Our Ducks”Tips to identify North American Waterfowl

With Rodger Titman

March 21“The Early Bird Gets the … Grub”The intricate lives of birds and insects; co-evolution and adaptation

With Chris Cloutier

Place: Knox Crescent Kensington & First Presbyterian Church, 6225 Godfrey Avenue, NDG

**Time: 7:30 pm; (exceptionally, on March 7, the lecture will be held at 8.p.m.)

Cost: $15 per lecture for BPQ members and $20 for non-members

Further details and registration forms will be available at monthly meetings, and on the website: www.birdprotectionquebec.org .

For more information please contact Averill Craig at 514-484-6575, ak.craig@sympatico.ca , or Audrey Speck 514-487-4032, a.speck@videotron.ca .

Field Trips for Jan/early February 2012Saturday 14 January - samedi 14 janvierParc-nature du Bois-de-LiesseLeader: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498

wgrubert@hotmail.com

8:30 a.m. Meet at the south entrance. Take Henri-Bourassa exit 60 off Highway 40 west. Stay on the north service road west to Henri-Bourassa Boulevard (approx. 2 km). Exit east on Henri-Bourassa Blvd. Almost immediately turn left onto rue Douglas-B-Floreani. Drive to the end of the street. Parking: $7.00. Looking for winter finches, owls, Pileated Woodpecker. Half day.

8h30 Rassemblement à l'entrée sud. Prendre la sortie # 60 Henri-Bourassa de l'autoroute 40 ouest. Demeurer sur la voie de service nord vers l'ouest jusqu'au boulevard Henri-Bourassa (environ 2 km). Prendre la sortie est du boulevard Henri Bourassa. Presqu'immédiatement, tourner à gauche sur la rue Douglas-B-Floreani et se rendre au bout de la rue. Stationnement : 7,00$ Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d’hiver et Grand pic. Demi-journée.

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Saturday 21 January – samedi 21 janvierSouth Shore Driving TripLeader: Sheldon Harvey 450-462-1459ve2shw@yahoo.comThe exact route for this trip will be chosen based on a number of factors including weather conditions, bird activity and any special or rare bird sightings reported in the days leading up to the trip. Complete details of the field trip, including the route, start time, meeting spot, and duration will be posted on the BPQ webpage and on the Songsparrow e-mail forum two or three days in advance of the outing.

Saturday 28 January - samedi 28 janvierMontreal Botanical Garden - Jardin Botanique De Montréal Leader: Guy Zenaitis 514-256-8118gzenaitis@videotron.ca

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.

8h00 Rassemblement devant le restaurant, près de l'entrée du jardin sur la rue Sherbrooke Est. Prévoir des frais de stationnement. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d'hiver. Demi-journée.

Saturday 4 February - samedi 4 février Secteur-Bois-de-l’Heritage (Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies)Leader: Joël Coutu 514-324-5092 fauconbleu65@hotmail.com

8:00 a.m. Take Boul. Metropolitain (Highway 40)east toward the northeast end of Montreal Island. Exit at Henri-Bourassa and

travel east to Sherbrooke Street. Turn left (northeast) on Sherbrooke and proceed approximately 1.2 km to Ave.Yves-Thériault and turn left (northwest). Follow Ave. Yves-Thériault as it turns right then left to the corner of Jovette-Bernier. The park is across the street. If you don't have a parking permit for the nature parks, parking is available on the streets in this area. Meet at the Chalet. The park has a variety of habitats. Looking for feeder birds, winter finches. Owls have been seen in the past. Half day.

8h00 Prendre Boul. Métropolitain (autoroute 40) direction est vers l'extrémité nord de l'île de Montréal. Prendre la sortie Henri-Bourassa et continuez vers l'est jusqu'à la rue Sherbrooke. Tournez à gauche (nord-est) sur la rue Sherbrooke et de continuez environ 1,2 km jusqu’à l’avenue Yves-Thériault et tournez à gauche (nord-ouest). Suivez l’avenue Yves-Thériault qui tourne à droite puis à gauche au coin de Jovette-Bernier. Le parc est de l’autre côté de la rue. Le stationnement est disponible dans les rues du voisinage. Le lieu de rendez-vous sera au Chalet. Le parc a une variété d'habitats. Nous serons à la recherche d’oiseaux de mangeoires et de nos granivores hivernaux. Des hiboux ont été observés dans ce parc dans le passé. Demi-journée.

Saturday 11 February -samedi 11 févrierChateauguay, Rue Higgins & Sainte-Catherine Récré-O-ParcLeader: Tom Long 450-692-1590 ram_air455@yahoo.com

8:00 a.m.: Meet at rue Higgins in Châteauguay. The birds to look for at Higgins 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 including 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 whatever else we can find. There are no facilities at the Récré-O-Parc.Half day.

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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. Saint-Francis. Follow Saint. 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 till rue Higgins and turn right. There is a small parking area on the left next to the cell-phone tower.

8h00 Rendez-vous à la rue Higgins. Sur la rue Higgins à Châteauguay, 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 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 zone Higgins, nous irons à la Récré-O-Parc à Sainte-Catherine. A la Récré-O-Parc, nous y verrons presqu’exclusivement des canards d’hiver et peut-être 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. Saint-Francis. Suivez Saint-Francis, jusqu'au bout à la rencontre 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.

Saturday 18 February - samedi 18 février Sainte-Marthe, Saint-Clet, Sainte-JustineLeader: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498wgrubert@hotmail.com

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 rendezvous would be greatly appreciated. Half day.

8h00 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.

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Snow Bunting (photo - Wikipedia under creative commons licence)

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Past Field Trip Reports17/09/11 – Pointe-Yamachiche, Yamachiche, QC Leader: Frédéric HareauClear, sunny, 18°C.. 10 birders; 52 speciesBird of the Day: American Golden-PloverOther Birds of Note: Snow Goose, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling, White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Philadelphia Vireo, American Pipit, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Wilson's Warbler

24/09/11 – Philipsburg, QC – Leader: Sandy MontgomeryCloudy with drizzle. 4 birders: Bird of the Day: 9 Turkey VulturesOther Birds of Note: Merlin, Common Raven, House Wren

01/10/11 – Parc-nature de l’Île-Bizard, Île Bizard, QC Leader: Felix HiltonCold and rainy 80°C 5 birdersA few common species. No birds of note.

08/10/11 – Cooper Marsh, South Lancaster, ON Leader: Martin BowmanBeautiful day; between 12 and 22°C. 14 birders; 36 speciesBird of the Day: Rusty BlackbirdOther Birds of Note: Northern Harrier, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow

15/10/11 – Parc national d’Oka, Oka, QC Leader: Wayne GrubertVery windy & overcast. 4 birders; 29 speciesBird of the Day: 3 Red-tailed HawksOther Birds of Note: Wood Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Northern Harrier, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush

22/10/11 – Refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville, Île St-Bernard, Châteauguay, QC – Leader: Tom Long8 to 10°C cloudy, very little wind and no rain. 17 birders; 47 species Bird of the Day: White-winged Scoter

Other Birds of Note: Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Great Egret, American Coot, Tufted Titmouse, Blackpoll Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird

29/10/11 – Centre d'interpretation de la nature du Lac-Boivin, Granby, QC – Leader: Sheldon HarveySunny, cool. 11 birders; 24 speciesBird of the Day: Rusty BlackbirdOther Birds of Note: Snow Goose, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Dark-eyed Junco

05/11/11 - Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies, Montreal, QC Leaders: Jean Demers & Clémence SoulardClear, mild. 11 birders; 26 speciesBirds of the Day: Black Scoter, Long-tailed DuckOther Birds of Note: Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin

12/11/11 - Voyageur Provincial Park, ON – Leader: Joël CoutuCloudy, 8°C. 10 birders; 28 speciesBirds of the Day: Hooded Merganser, Bald EagleOther Birds of Note: Bufflehead, Ruffed Grouse, Belted Kingfisher, Purple Finch

19/11/11 – St-Basile-le-Grand, Île-Goyer, Chambly, QC Leader: Sheldon HarveyA mix of sun and cloud; cool. 18 birders; 27 speciesBirds of the Day: Greylag Goose, Great Cormorant, Fulvous Whistling-DuckOther Birds of Note: Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebe, Red-tailed Hawk, Bonaparte's Gull, Horned Lark, American Tree Sparrow

26/11/11 – Morgan Arboretum, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC Leader: Richard GregsonCloudy, mild. 35 birders; 24 speciesBirds of the Day: White-winged Crossbill, Snow BuntingOther Birds of Note: Pileated Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin, Golden-crowned Kinglet

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INTERNATIONAL BIRDING AT ITS BEST: AUSTRALIA IN OCTOBER

Monthly meeting and lecture

Monday 9 January 2012

Pierre Bannon and Nick Acheson recently participated in a three-week birding tour of eastern Australia organized by Laval Roy. Thirteen birders from Quebec took part, guided by two experts on Australian birds working for the company Tropical Birding.

Pierre and Nick will begin the evening with a discussion of international birding: where you might go, what touring companies offer their services, what conditions you might expect, and how much it will cost. They will then describe the highlights of their Australia trip, discussing the different habitats visited, several bird families unique to Australasia or Asia, and some of the most interesting and colourful species seen (a total of 433 species were listed by the group). Pierre’s photographs will illustrate the presentation. If time permits, Nick and Pierre will briefly discuss other areas they have visited (Antarctica, Galapagos, Ecuador, and Venezuela).

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Bird Protection Quebecis a registered charity. Donations are tax deductible. Charity Registration # 11925 2161 RR0001.

Principal Officers

President - Richard GregsonVice-Presidents - David Mulholland & Marie-Hélène GauthierTreasurer - Jean Harwood GregsonSecretary - Jean BaconThe Song Sparrow ISSN 1710-3371Legal Deposit: National Library and Archives of Canada - Publication Mail No. 40044323

Website:www.birdprotectionquebec.org On-line discussion group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Songsparrow

Newsletter Contacts

Editor: Jane Cormack cormackjane@gmail.comLayout: Richard GregsonBirdviews: Pierre Bannon pbannon@videotron.ca

Contact BPQ:

birdprotectionquebec@gmail.com

Bird Protection QuebecP.O. Box 43, Station BMontreal QC H3B 3J5

Tel: 514-637-2141

Membership:

Details and subscription information are on our website. Subscriptions can be paid online.Membership Secretary - Christine Burt

Rainbow Lorikeet

Photo: Pierre Bannon

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BPQ Birding Calendar to March 2012Full details are on our website at www.birdprotectionquebec.org

December 17 : Montreal Christmas Bird Count

December 27 : Hudson Christmas Bird Count

Monthly Meeting and LectureMonday 9 JanuaryInternational Birding : Australia in October

Field TripSaturday 14 January - samedi 14 janvierParc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse

Field tripSaturday 21 January – samedi 21 janvierSouth Shore Driving Trip

Field tripSaturday 28 January - samedi 28 janvierMontreal Botanical Garden - Jardin Botanique De Montréal

Field tripSaturday 4 February - samedi 4 février Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies

Monthly Meeting and LectureMonday February 6 - speaker to be announced

Winter lecture seriesFebruary 8, 7:30pm“A Drift of Buntings” An overview of the Snow BuntingSimon Duval and Gay McDougall Gruner

Field tripSaturday 11 February -samedi 11 févrierChateauguay, Rue Higgins & Sainte-Catherine Récré-O-Parc

Field trip Saturday 18 February - samedi 18 février Sainte-Marthe, Saint-Clet, Sainte-Justine

Winter lecture seriesFebruary 22, 7:30pm“Rise and Shine, it’s Dark Outside!”The secret lives of Whip-poor-wills and Common NighthawksGregory Rand Winter lecture seriesMarch 7, 8:00pm“Let’s Enjoy Our Ducks”Tips to identify North American WaterfowlRodger Titman Winter lecture seriesMarch 21, 7:30pm“The Early Bird Gets the … Grub”The intricate lives of birds and insects; co-evolution and adaptationChris Cloutier

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