Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory

Infobox Protected area
name = Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
iucn_category =

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caption = Location of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
base_width = 220px
locator_x = 217
locator_y = 175
location = Eastern Ontario
nearest_city = Picton, Ontario
lat_degrees= 43|lat_minutes= 57|lat_seconds= |lat_direction=N
long_degrees= 76|long_minutes=54 |long_seconds= |long_direction=W
area = 560 hectares (Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area)
established = 1995 (observatory)
1978 (National Wildlife Area)
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =
world_heritage_site =

The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory is a bird observatory located in the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, located on Prince Edward Point in the south-east corner of Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.cite web|url = http://naturestuff.net/site/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=16|title = Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory|author = Terry Spraque|date = March 25, 2007|accessdate = 2007-08-27] The National Wildlife Area was established in 1978 covering 560 hectares.cite web|url = http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/nwa/eng/prince/princeedwardpoint_htm-e.html|title = National Wildlife Areas in Ontario - Prince Edward Point|publisher = Environment Canada|accessdate = 2007-08-27] The observatory was established in 1995 to monitor bird migrations across the point, continuing the work of the Kingston Field Naturalists who performed similar work in the 1970s and 1980s.cite web|url = http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/pept.html|title = Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory|publisher = Canadian Migration Monitoring Network|accessdate = 2007-08-27] The observatory was designated a Globally Important Birding Area in 1998 by the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada. It is also an International Monarch Butterfly Reserve.

Role

The observatory's purpose is to observe the migratory bird populations. It does so through a combination of bird banding, daily censuses and observations.

Funding for these activities comes from a variety of sources. In 2002, the Ontario Trillium Foundation awarded the observatory $150 000 to renovate the research station, stabalize the bird banding operations and develop outreach activities. [cite web|url = http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/cms/en/2000_2001_QKR.aspx|title = Quinte, Kingston, Rideau 2000-2001|publisher = The Ontario Trillium Foundation|accessdate = 2007-08-27] Smaller grants have included a $5 000 donation from the George Cedric Metcalfe Foundation for a modern bird banding facility and a $7 000 grant from the Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation to construct blinds and observation platforms.

Ecology

Prince Edward Point extends about 10 kilometers into Lake Ontario. Off the edges of the point there are both shoals and deeper waters. The point itself is limestone bedrock with a thin covering of unconsolidated Farmington loam top soil.Cite web|url = http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/site.jsp?siteID=ON003|title = Prince Edward Point, Picton, Ontario|publisher = Important Bird Areas of Canada] cite web|url = http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/areas/areas_report.cfm?areaid=2012|title = Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area|publisher = Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources]

The point features an interior with primarily grassland and scrubland. [cite web|url = http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/homepage/spotlight-protectedareas-e.html#princeedwardpoint|title = Prince Edward Point NWA|publisher = Canadian Wildlife Service|accessdate = 2007-08-27] Also present are small amounts of wooded swamps, shrub-lined ponds, mixed forests and alvars. Both sandy shores and rocky shores are found along the south beaches of the point, while the north beaches are prominent limestone cliffs. Some of the key species in the ecosystem of the point include Fringed Gentian, Vipers Bugloss, Butterfly Weed, Jewelweed, Black-eyed Susan and Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper. Rare vascular plants found on Prince Edward Point include Ontario aster, downy wood mint and clammyweed.

Prince Edward Point is a concentration point of bird migrations over the Great Lakes. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded at Prince Edward Point. Most of these birds are recorded in migration, however 74 species of bird have been recorded nesting on the point.

Bird species coverage

The site experiences large quantity bird migration. Single day totals of Greater Scaup, Oldsquaw and White-winged Scooters have exceeded 1% of their total North American populations. Single day totals of common birds exceed 10 000 individuals for species like Tree Swallows, Oldsquaws and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The single day count of Dark-eyed Juncos has exceeded 70 000 birds.

This table contains the spring bird counts, averaged over 1995 - 1999. The priority of various species depends on how well their breeding grounds are covered by surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, with birds whose breeding grounds are well surveyed being of lesser priority. The Mean DET is the daily estimated total number of birds migrating across Prince Edward Point, and the Mean Band is the number of birds banded in the season. Both these quantites are averaged over 1995 - 1999. This table includes only species with at least at least ten individuals counted per season, across not less than five days.

References

External links

* http://www.peptbo.ca/ - the official website of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory