The migration of a banding coordinator

Brett Tryon with Tree Swallow 

After 6 seasons at TTPBRS, this little bird has decided to spread her wings. It has been a rewarding three years and an experience I will never forget. To hold a wild bird in one’s hand is a privilege, and something that most people will never experience in a lifetime. To do it every day for a living is almost unheard of.  I take with me some incredible memories: the first-record Worm-eating Warbler that I banded, the Baltimore Oriole that sang in my hand, the Northern Shrike that pierced my finger with its razor sharp bill, and the rare Whip-poor-will whose softness took my breath away. These are just some highlights - every bird is special and every day has been a learning experience.

I have been fortunate to work outdoors in Toronto’s urban wilderness, a side to the city that many people have yet to explore. By achieving the unthinkable feat of getting up hours before dawn, I have been able to experience wonders of nature that only occur in those final moments of darkness. I have watched the full moon setting over the sleeping city; I have seen the sun rise over the misty lake; and I have listened to the dawn chorus as hundreds of birds awaken the world with song. 

What I will miss most is the TTPBRS family – the volunteers that have made my job possible. Although life pulls people in different directions, many of the volunteers have returned season after season. Their dedication and enthusiasm constantly inspires me. It takes a unique individual to get up so early and dedicate a full day of their time without pay, simply out of passion and good will.  With only one paid staff member, the volunteers are the backbone of this program. They have been so fun to work with and have taught me so much. I want to thank all of the following volunteers who I have worked with throughout the years:

Stephen Campbell

Theresa Carlin

Andrea Chreston

Lisa Chou

Antonio Coral

John Crawford

Bronwyn Dalziel

Marc Dupuis Desormeaux

Charlotte England

Mark Field

Tom Flinn

Attila Fust

Andrea Geboers

Stephanie Hung

Andrew Jano

Don Johnston

Andreas Jonsson

Bindu Kaimal

Bob Kortright

Laura Arnot Kucey

Priscilla Lai

Jan McDonald
Larry Menard

Theresa McKenzie

Lisa Myslicki

Denise Potter

Paul Prior

Elisabeth Purves

Whitney Pyper

Glenn Reed

Maya Ricker-Wilson

Emily Rondel

Sachiko Schott

Josh Shook

Zak Smith

Zoe Southcott

Ian Sturdee

Dell Tune

Bert Vanderzon

Paul Xamin

Juan Zuloaga

The search is on for a new Coordinator, so if you are interested in applying, please visit http://www.trca.on.ca/careers/job/126641

Good Birding!

Brett

Owls at Tommy Thompson Park

Tommy Thompson Park (TTP) is a popular winter hangout for owls, and for those who seek them. The largest existing greenspace on the Toronto waterfront, TTP provides critical habitat for owls during the harshest months of the year. Ten owl species have been observed at TTP, but the most common owls are Great Horned, Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet.  

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Theresa McKenzie)

During the winter many birders and photographers visit TTP in search of owls. Some regulars even know which trees to check, as owls often have favorite roosting locations. Unfortunately, the well-worn paths leading right up to the trunks of such trees are a clear indication that people are getting too close for comfort. Over the years there have also been many accounts of people crowding around owls, causing them to fly away and even pruning or breaking branches in order to get better photographs. There is no doubt that people’s intentions are good – we love owls so much that we will spend hours in the cold and wind just to get a glimpse of them! The question is can we love them to death?

If you think that this is a bold or unrealistic question, considering the following story. A Snowy Owl turned up one winter at a construction site in Michigan, where it remained for the season. Birders and photographers flocked to see it over the course of the winter. Not surprisingly, there were many complaints about the owl being harassed. There were accounts of groups literally surrounding the owl, people flushing the owl into traffic, and some individuals even trespassing onto private property in order to get better photos. The temptation to get a good shot seems to preclude common sense and consideration for animal welfare. When one conscientious birder suggested on the local birding forum that people should not approach the owl so closely, he was met with much opposition. People commented on how healthy the owl seemed to be. One photographer, who had clearly flushed the owl, asserted that its behavior of flying around was a result of it being in good health and exploring its surroundings.  In early spring the owl was found dead, and a necropsy revealed that this “healthy” bird had in fact died of malnutrition. It isn’t out of the question to assume that the hoards of people harassing this owl on a daily basis interfered with its ability to hunt successfully and caused it to waste precious energy in an attempt to escape their advances. While people may not have directly caused the owl’s demise, they no doubt made matters worse.

Owls budget their time and energy very carefully. Food is scarce during the winter, and an owl must be a successful hunter in order to survive. Distracting an owl from its prey or causing it to fly away and abandon its intended meal disrupts this process.  A roosting owl on the other hand, is attempting to rest and save its energy for the long night of hunting ahead. Whenever a sleeping owl is flushed, it is forced to waste its precious energy.

Some species like Long-eared Owls tend to be quite skittish and have a tendency to flush easily, so it is important to keep a good distance from them. The Northern Saw-whet Owl has a different defence mechanism; rather than fly away and draw attention to itself, it sits very still in hopes of not being seen. These owls might let you get very close, but don’t be fooled into thinking that they are comfortable with your presence; they consider you to be a predator.  Their eyes wide open and staring at you and upright, elongated posture are tell-tale signs of stress.  An owl should not be focused on you: it should either be sleeping with its eyes closed on focusing intently on prey. If you see an owl exhibiting these sings, simply back off and give it space.

Considering the stress that one individual can place on an owl, it is easy to see how problematic it can be when the location of an owl is posted or shared by word of mouth. It isn’t long before the owl is being bombarded by multitudes of people.  As TTP is such a popular destination and so easily accessible, there has been growing concern over the impacts that people have on its owls. In order to address these concerns and take a proactive approach to the issue, TRCA has developed an Owl Viewing and Reporting Policy. This document was written after careful consideration of scientific literature and various owl management strategies. By following the simple guidelines, you can help ensure that our beloved owls continue to thrive at Tommy Thompson Park.

Tommy Thompson Park Owl Viewing and Reporting Policy

Fall Migration Monitoring: October 26 - November 12

It was such a mild, beautiful fall this year. Bird activity really slowed down during the last few weeks, but we did have a surprise on November 3rd when we captured a Northern Shrike. It took some sneaky maneuvers to take it out of the net without being sliced!

Northern Shrike (Brett Tryon)

Banding Totals

Eastern Phoebe 1

Black-capped Chickadee 4

Brown Creeper 13

Winter Wren 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet 85

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15

Hermit Thrush 28

American Robin 2

Northern Cardinal 13

Eastern Towhee 2

American Tree Sparrow 25

Fox Sparrow 5

Song Sparrow 1

Swamp Sparrow 2

White-throated Sparrow 7

White-crowned Sparrow 3

Dark-eyed Junco 17

Northern Shrike 2



Total 226





American Tree Sparrow (volunteer Charlotte England)

It finally started to feel like winter was on its way during the last week, with strong winds and frost on the ground. Most of the land bird activity we noted was in the form of flyovers, mainly Pine Siskins, American Pipits, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and huge flocks of blackbirds. On the last two days we didn't catch a single bird!

On the final day of Migration Monitoring we were visited by a Tundra Swan, which was spotted by a volunteer off of the North shore. We all gathered with the scope and watched in delight as it paddled in closer and closer, until it was within a couple of meters of us. It was nice to actually see the field marks that are described in the field guides, especially the distinctive yellow spot on the bill. Eventually it wandered off and then suddenly took flight, issuing a rattling call reminiscent of a Sanhill Crane.

Fall migration really "flew by" this year! Thank you to all of the dedicated volunteers who make this possible. We will be open again for on April 1 through June 9. Until then, enjoy your winter birding and happy holidays!

Fall Migration Monitoring: October 12-25

Orange-crowned Warbler (left) and Tennessee Warbler (right)

BANDING TOTALS

Species	Total
Downy Woodpecker	1
Eastern Phoebe	2
Brown Creeper	21
Winter Wren	38
Golen-crowned Kinglet	49
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	30
Hermit Thrush	55
American Robin	2
Gray Catbird	1
Brown Thrasher	1
Red-eyed Vireo	2
Tennessee Warbler	2
Orange-crowned Warbler	1
Nashville Warbler	2
Myrtle Warbler	41
American Tree Sparrow	2
Chipping Sparrow	1
Field Sparrow	1
Fox Sparrow	2
Song Sparrow	12
Swamp Sparrow	5
White-throated Sparrow	32
White-crowned Sparrow	1
Dark-eyed Junco	10
Total	314

Exciting Recapture!

Myrtle Warbler 2290-36370

On Tuesday we caught this adult female Myrtle Warbler (the eastern race of Yellow-rumped Warbler) and it already had a band. This happens quite frequently, as we recapture birds that we have already banded during their stopover. When I began to read out the band number 2290-36370, however, I realized that it was not a band from our inventory. Myrtle Warblers take a size zero band, and all of ours start with prefix 2500. I was very excited. Since I began at TTPBRS in 2009, I have not yet encountered a bird from another station!

When I got home I went to the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) website to look up the band number. The BBL is jointly administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey, and they keep a database of all of the birds banded in North America. It took 5 minutes for me to fill out a form, and the information was instantly available. It turns out that the bird was first banded as a hatch-year female at Pelee Island on October 6, 2009! This bird is now on her fifth migration. Wish her luck!

If you ever find a banded bird or a stray band, visit http://www.reportband.gov/ to report it. The data from these encounters is rare, and provides valuable information about migratory routes, dispersal and longevity. You will also receive a certificate with all of the information about that bird. I am looking forward to getting that piece of paper in the mail!