Bruce Di Labio's Blog: Boreal Owls on the move south? September 17, 2012

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Boreal Owls on the move south? September 17, 2012

All signs were pointing to Boreal Owls this autunm in northeast ontario and perhaps further south. last night we started our owl banding season and caught 3 Boreal Owls and 13 sawwhets. This is the first year that the first owl captured was a boreal owl. In the past ontbirders have made the trek to see Boreal Owls at our marsh in the beautiful boreal forest if you ebirders are thinking this is the year you can add a boreal to your list then i would recommend thanksgiving weekend. good luck convincing family to pass on turkey for a glimpse of a boreal owl. Boreals irrupt every four years based on northrn crashes of their main food source the red backed vole which happens every four yeras this is the peak of the vole southern boreal irruption cycle. please feel free to contact me off line to dsicuss opportunities.

Hilliardton marsh is located about 5 hours north of toronto we are 2 hours north of north bay a wee drive off of hwy 11 as the boreal owl flies. Boreal owls have been reported in alberta and tadoussac quebec so this is not an isolated event . Depending on how far south they come you may see them in owl woods near kingston this autumn but you would pass on a trip to the boreal.

Update: October 2, 2012

Last night at the hilliardton marsh we were joined by a couple for iowa who made the three day trek to hilliardton which is 15 minutes for newliskeard. We managed to capture and band 8 boreal owls and caught 1 that we had banded the night before. This could be THE weekend to see these boreal beauties. Please refer to www.themarsh.ca for directions. In other bird news we had an early pine siskin and banded our first american tree sparrow of the season. We are located about 5 hours north of toronto. banding is open to the public nightly from 9 to 11. Check weather as we do not band if it is raining. All the best birders . Sincerely Bruce Murphy thanks to Glenn Reed and Chris Sukha foir their help. We have now banded 20 boreal owls. An intersting bit of information is that 17 of them have been adults while about 95% of the sawwhets we have been banding are young of this year.

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Birding Ethics

Ontario Field Ornithologists' Ethical Birding Principles
As the number of birders increases, we must all make every effort to act in a positive and responsible way. We must also convey responsible image to non-birders who may be affected by our activities. Most people appreciate birds but this appreciation can be quickly destroyed by the irresponsible actions of a handful of birders.

In the past a code of ethics was not considered necessary, but times have changed and as more and more pressure is put on our environment it is essential to do whatever we can to lead by example. Each of us must show consideration to other birders, landowners, habitat, birds and other wildlife at all times. We are ambassadors of birding and our actions today will reflect the respect we receive in the future.

The welfare of the birds must come first.
Whatever your interest, from scientific study to listing, always consider the impact of your activity on the bird. Respect bird protection laws. We are all responsible to ensure we abide by them at all times.

Habitat protection.
Habitat is vital for the existence of birds and we must ensure that our activities cause minimum damage to our environment. Use trails to avoid trampling vegetation.

Keep disturbance to a minimum.
Although some birds can tolerate human activity, this varies from species to species and from season to season. Use common sense and extreme caution around nests. Migrants may be tired and hungry and should not be kept from resting or feeding. When photographing birds, study their reaction and if they become agitated, back off. Avoid the use of flash photography on owls. Tape recordings and similar methods of attracting birds may cause stress for territorial birds. They should be used sparingly and avoided in heavily birded areas. Do not deliberately flush birds. Patience is often rewarded.

Rare breeding birds.
If you discover a rare breeding bird, do not feel under any obligation to report your find to other birders. Record the details of your discovery. You may wish to file the nest with the Ontario Nest Records Scheme at the Royal Ontario Museum. Avoid visiting known sites of rare breeding birds unless they can be viewed from a distance without disturbance.

Rare birds.
Rare migrants or vagrants are the species most sought after by birders. If you discover a rarity, consider the circumstances carefully before releasing the information. You must take responsibility for the decision to release the find. You should consider whether an influx of birders will disturb the bird, people or other species in the area; whether habitat will be damaged; and where people will park. Inform the landowner of the find, explain what may happen and obtain permission to tell other birders. Ask the landowner for a list of dos and don'ts, for example, where birders may stand to get a good view and what restrictions there may be on time of day. Also ask which areas are off limit. If you decide to release the news, give precise directions and instructions. If possible include a phone number. At all times make as little noise as possible. Remember, most non-birders will be surprised by the number of visitors who wish to see a rare bird.

Respect the rights of landowners and occupiers of land.
Before entering an area, be aware of the rules about access such as by-laws of Conservation Authorities, National and Provincial Parks, and Regional Authorities. Many landowners and authorities allow birders access to areas normally off limits. Always act in a responsible way and if you are asked to leave, do so immediately. Do not block gateways or cause damage to fences, and leave gates as you find them. Do not obstruct people who may be working in these areas.

Have proper consideration for other birders.
When telephoning for information, do so at reasonable hours of the day. Try not to disrupt other birders’ activities or scare the birds they are watching. Many other people enjoy the outdoors; do not interfere with their activities. Be polite to other birders and helpful to beginners. If you see people obviously disturbing birds or significantly damaging habitat, explain to them the effect of their actions but be courteous, they may not be aware of the effect they are having.

Increase our knowledge about birds.
Keep notes of your sightings and send them to area compilers. Send rare bird reports to the Secretary, Ontario Bird Records Committee.

When birding in other countries, provinces or regions.
Find out if there is a local code of ethics or any special rules that should be respected.

|Other Birding Codes of Conduct|

Bruce Di Labio's Blog

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Boreal Owls on the move south? September 17, 2012

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