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birding...
Canada
Why Come birding in Canada? Canada is a modern country, with civilized amenities, offering unhurried, unharried birding and incomparable scenery. There are nearly 640 species on the country list. Canada represents excellent value for money (current low Canadian dollar exchange rate) and there are lots of open places with no crowds (except Point Pelee National Park in May). Canada is the second largest country in the world, with a wealth of diverse habitats (coastlines, mountains, prairies, wetlands, taiga, tundra, extensive deciduous forests) and is a remarkably safe country (low crime rate, no inoculations needed). Moreover, it has wood warblers in breeding plumage (36 species breeding); excellent tourism infrastructure, great mammal viewing, butterfly watching, and wildflower photography. Why Not? There are no endemic bird species, so world twitchers should go somewhere else. When To Come? For North-bound migration go in mid-April to mid-May; for breeding birds go in late May to early July; for south-bound migration go in mid-July to October, and, for winter birding come in December through to February. How to get there? There are direct flights from Europe to Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and elsewhere. Solo birding is often practical, as birding guides (mostly current) cover much of the southern portions of the country. Otherwise go on a birding tour with a Canadian-based tour company; they know Canada best. |
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Alberta (grasslands and mountains)
Most visitors concentrate on the SW part of the province, because that is where Banff is, the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Dinosaur Provincial Park -- species of the grasslands and badlands, Banff & Jasper National Parks -- montane species, Beaverhill Lake -- wader migration , Wood Buffalo National Park -- in the NW corner. Boreal species, and nesting site of the Whooping Crane.British Columbia (mountains, valleys, coastline)
The province with the largest species list in the country; most visits (and birding) occur in the SW corner, due to ease of access. Okanagan Valley -- birds of “southern” montane affinity, Manning Provincial Park -- western montane species, Reifel Refuge, & Iona/Sea Islands - waterfowl, waders, migration, Pacific Rim National Park.Manitoba (birds of the arctic, boreal forest, prairie wetlands, and grassland)
This province still holds the largest single-day bird total for Canada, at 205 species, in early June. Oak Hammock Marsh, Riding Mountain National Park, Whiteshell Provincial Park, SW. Manitoba -- grassland species, Churchill -- the “accessible” arcticNew Brunswick (wader migration, boreal breeding species, salt marshes)
Grand Manan Island, Fundy National Park, Sackville Waterfowl Park, Kouchibouguac National Park, Isle Miscou, Cape Tormentine National Wildlife Area.Newfoundland & Labrador (Seabird colonies, Long Range Mountains, accessible arctic/alpine habitats)
East Coast: Avalon Peninsula, Cape St. Mary’s National Wildlife Refuge (gannets, kittiwakes, alcids); Witless Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Terra Nova National Park. West Coast: Codroy Valley, Gros Morne National Park, L’anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Labrador: Pinware River mouth.Northwest Territories (tundra, boreal forest, arctic coast)
Accessible by road to Fort Smith and Yellowknife via Alberta, and to Inuvik via the Dempster Highway from Whitehorse. And accessible by air. Quite remote, and expensive. Yellowknife area. Nahanni National Park (access by guided outfitter recommended). Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk areas. Polar Bear Pass.Nova Scotia (Boreal Forest birds, salt marsh species)
...autumn wader migration through the Bay of Fundy, best vagrant traps in Canada -- second-smallest province in Canada, but the third-largest species list, with only 30 active birders. Also autumn colours, and world’s highest tides. Cape Breton Highlands National Park -- breeding birds, Cape Sable Island -- migrant/vagrant trap, Brier Island -- migrant trap, and base for seabird and whale-watching trips, Kejimkujik National Park -- breeding birds. Hartlen Point (in Halifax) -- vagrant trap, Amherst Point Migratory Bird Sanctuary -- breeding marsh birds, Bay of Fundy -- seabirds, whales, wader migration, Pictou Harbour -- winter waterfowl and gulls.Nunavut (tundra, arctic coast)
Canada’s newest territory; access by air only. Auyittuq National Park (Baffin Island); Ellesmere Island National Park.Ontario (the largest province in Canada, so offering a little bit of everything)
Southern Ontario: Point Pelee National Park -- migration, Carolinian breeding species, Prince Edward Point Wildlife Area - migration, Algonquin Provincial Park -- “accessible” boreal breeding species, Presque’isle Provincial Park - migration, Niagara River -- gulls in late autumn. Northern Ontario: Pukaskwa National Park -- boreal breeding species, Rainy River area -- species with “western” affiliations, Moosonee -- species with “arctic” affiliations.Prince Edward Island (wader migration, idyllic pastoral landscape -- the smallest Canadian province)
Prince Edward Island National Park, East Point.Quebec (breeding birds, seabird colonies, whale watching)
One of the largest provinces in Canada, French-speaking, and with its vast northern areas difficult to access, except for roads to the Great Whale hydro project, and to Goose Bay, Labrador. Isle Bonaventure -- seabird colony, Gaspé Peninsula -- boreal forest, and mountains, Saguenay Provincial Park and National Marine Park -- whales and seabirds, Cap Tormentine -- migration (200,000+ Snow Geese in October); La Mauricie National Park -- boreal forest.Saskatchewan (grassland birds, prairie wetlands, boreal forest, and birds of the Rocky Mountain foothills)
An 'undiscovered' gem. Incredible concentrations of birds during spring and autumn migration, and a superb diversity of breeding species. Grasslands National Park -- birds of the prairie, Cypress Hills Provincial Park -- an outlier of the Rocky Mountain foothills, with mountain species, The Great Sand Hills, Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Prince Albert National Park -- Boreal species, eight breeding owls, mammal watching par excellence.Yukon Territory (mountains, arctic coast)
Of the three northern territories, the easiest to access. The Alaska highway links Alberta with Alaska, passing through the Yukon, and the Dempster highway goes north from Whitehorse to the Arctic coast in the Northwest Territories. The Whitehorse area, Kluane National Park - mountains.contributor |
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Blake Maybank
Writer & Tour Leader
(Nova Scotia)
maybank@ns.sympatico.ca
numbers |
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National Bird - Common Loon Gavia immer
numbers |
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There are no true endemcis in Canada but there are three birds that breed nowhere else... Ross`s Goose Anser rossii, Labrador Duck Camptorhynchus labradorius and Whooping Crane Grus americana. The Ipswich race of the Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis princeps also breeds only in Canada, and is a strong candidate for a future split.
useful reading |
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A Birders Checklist of the Birds of USA and Canada
D Sargeant 19 pages 1994ISBN: 41900
Buy this book from NHBS.com
A Birder`s Guide to Metropolitan Areas of North America
Edited by Paul Lehaman American Birding Association 2001ISBN: 1878788159
Buy this book from NHBS.com
ABA Checklist
Birds of the Continental United States and Canada American Birding Association 162 pages 2002ISBN: 1878788388
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Bird Sounds of Canada
Monty Brigham Sound field guide to Canada's birds. Produced as boxed sets of either 4 cassettes or 2 CD-packs, each containing 32-page booklets. A full set comprising 12 cassettes or 6 CDs is also available. 1994ISBN: 39881W
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Atlantic Canada
Roger Burrows 336 pages, col illus, maps. Lone Pine Publishing 2002ISBN: 1551053535
Buy this book from NHBS.com
The North American Bird Guide
David Sibley.Hardcover (21 September, 2000) PICA PRESSSee Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 1873403984
Buy this book from NHBS.com
useful information |
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Bird Studies Canada
P0 Box 160, Port Rowan, Ontario NOB IMO. + 1 519 586 3531 mbradstreet@bsc-eoc.org http://www.bsc-eoc.org
Proact
Coordinator: none (why not apply?) see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: 14
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
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Boreal Songbird Initiative
http://www.borealbirds.org/The Boreal Songbird Initiative (BSI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to outreach and education about the importance of the Boreal Forest region to North America's birds. BSI works to mobilize environmental and birding groups and individuals to influence Canadian government and industry policies...
Canadian Wildlife Federation
http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/Since 1962, CWF has advocated the protection of Canada`s wild species and spaces. Representing over 300,000 members and supporters, the federation is one of Canada`s largest non-profit, non-governmental conservation organizations...
Directory of Canadian Ornithologists
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/DCO/The directory of Canadian Ornithologists has been compiled by the Migratory Birds Conservation Division of the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada, with assistance from the Society of Canadian Ornithologists. The purpose of the directory is to foster collaboration among Canadian ornithologists. Canadians who are actively involved in bird work and wish to be included in this directory may submit information using the input form provided. This form is also used to update current information, or to request removal from the directory. Comments may also be submitted through the last page of the input form.
Ducks Unlimited
http://www.ducks.ca/Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America`s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people...
Important Bird Areas
http://www.ibacanada.com/Canada`s Important Bird Areas program is a science-based initiative to identify, conserve and monitor a network of sites that provide essential habitat for Canada`s bird populations...
Nature Canada
http://www.naturecanada.ca/1 Nicholas Street, Suite 606, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7. + 1 613 562 3447; cnf@cnf.ca
Conserving Canada`s backyard. The national voice for the protection of nature, its diversity, and the processes that sustain it...
Partners in Flight
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com/Land bird populations, a conspicuous component of Canadian vertebrate biodiversity, have shown long-term declines over the last 30 years. Loss and degradation of wildlife habitat through land development and some resource use practices are believed to be the primary causes of these declines. Conservation programs for other groups of birds (e.g. waterfowl and shorebirds) are in place, as are management programs for those groups under provincial jurisdiction (upland game birds and some raptors and endangered species). This leaves over half of Canada`s breeding bird species without a conservation effort organized on their behalf...
Peregrine Foundation
http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/We are the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, a Canadian Registered Charity here in Canada, (located in Toronto Ontario currently); and have been involved in peregrine (anatum sub) recovery, restoration, monitoring, and satellite tracking of same for the past two plus years. We are one of the only few private groups still hacking and releasing anatum’s back to the wild. The peregrine is still very much endangered here in Ontario, as well as five other provinces in Canada despite the federal downlisting. We have installed nest web camera`s, on both the wild urban nest here in Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Etobicoke); as well as in the two hack boxes at Richmond and Guelph - Ontario. In addition to the hacking, we have also fostered young anatum peregrines in to failed nest sites, where the eggs of proven pairs that did not hatch. We have been involved in the satellite tracking of several (four) juvenile peregrines last year, and followed them to Columbia South America and back to Ontario Canada (last year); and this years project track-em includes up to ten peregrines. We have tagged several again from Ontario, and now Quebec, and one in New York State (from the Rochester site at Kodak). The Kodak bird is a Canadian peregrine that was produced here in Toronto Ontario. We have a interesting site, and offer daily updates on most projects including the individual nest sites that we are monitoring.We have expanded our charitable mandate to include All endangered /threatened raptor species (raptors at risk); and will be adding new projects to include other raptors at risk.
Society of Canadian Ornithologists
http://www.sco-soc.ca/The Society is the body of Canada's ornithological community, whose mandate is to administer awards, publications, and interconnection with the other professional ornithological societies in Canada, North America and worldwide...
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Important Bird Areas in Canada
http://www.ibacanada.caCanada’s Important Bird Areas Program is a science-based initiative to identify, conserve, and monitor a network of sites that provide essential habitat for Canada’s bird populations...
Long Point World Biosphere Reserve
http://www.longpointbiosphere.orgWelcome to the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve website. The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation promotes research, monitoring, education and projects that support the goals of conservation and sustainable use in our Biosphere Reserve. This page presents our published brochure and newsletters. We hope that you take time to enjoy our virtual tour or review additional information on our Biosphere Reserve.
Parks Canada
http://www.pc.gc.ca/index_e.aspA useful site to gather background information if you are considering travelling to Canada.
Wetlands
http://www.ramsar.orgCanada presently has 36 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 13,051,501 hectares.
trip reports |
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Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!
2003 [July] - Michael C
http://www.vtbirds.com/vacation.htmlStarting on June 29th we journeyed to Bar Harbor, Maine and spent the night. We woke up to a foggy morning. Jumping on the CAT it was a pretty slow ride in the fog. We arrived at Yarmoth, Nova Scotia where we slipped out of town for our first real birding adventure. Highlights included a large number of Willets, a Common Tern, a Great Blue Heron and a small flock of Common Eiders...
Bird Links to the World
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp?page=l_can§ion=reportsList of links to Trip Reports for canada and its provinces... beware, these links are not kept as up to date as Fatbirder's...
Trip Report Repository - Blake Maybank
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/Canada/Canada-Index.htm#ChooseList of Provincial Trip Reports
tour operators |
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Canadian Travel Adventures
http://www.canadiantraveladventures.com/Canadian Travel Adventures is a website designed to give eager travelers information and links to help them make plans for their Canadian adventure...
Toonoonik Sahoonik Tours
http://inuit.pail.ca/sahoonik-outfitters.htmDiscover the ultimate in spring and summer holiday adventures in Canada`s High Arctic. Toonoonik Sahoonik Outfitters offers trips in the area around Pond Inlet at the north-eastern tip of Baffin Island - featuring amongst the highest concentrations of wildlife in the Arctic.
places to stay |
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Charming Inns
http://charmingcountryinns.com/...for a scenic location ...and, frequently, for the best food in town, you can`t do better than an Inn.Wherever you travel in America or Canada, Charming Country Inns directory is your best guide to hundreds and hundreds of little known, out of the way inns, B&Bs, lodges...
other links |
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Bird Studies Canada
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/bscmain.htmlBird Studies Canada is recognized nation-wide as a leading and respected not-for-profit conservation organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, appreciation and conservation of wild birds and their habitats, in Canada and elsewhere, through studies that engage the skills, enthusiasm and support of its members, volunteers, staff and the interested public.
Birders Journal
http://www.birdersjournal.com/HomePage.htmThe Canadian Magazine for Birding in North America...
Birds of the World
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jspWhilst this site is based in Quebec and has much for the Quebec birder it is also one of the world’s top sites for linking to other birds and birding websites… like Fatbirder through interactive maps. An excellent site!
Canadian Bird Trends
http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/trends.htmlThe Canadian Bird Trends Database is a retrieval system that provides the user with information on Canadian bird species including: population trends, range distribution, and national conservation designations. Population trends are derived from Canadian Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data and are updated on an annual basis. For species or eco-zones for which BBS data are insufficient for statistical analysis, no trends are presented.
Endangered species in Canada
http://www.hww.ca/index_e.aspThe highest rates of species extinction are occurring not in Canada, but in tropical rain forests that are being rapidly cleared. However, the rate of species extinction is high in Canada, as well...
Environment Canada
http://www.ec.gc.ca/Everything you could possibly want to know about the environment from a Canadian perspective. The site is in French & English.
Nature Sounds.ca
http://www.naturesounds.ca/Nature Sounds.ca is dedicated to sharing the sounds and experiences of the woods and forests of northeastern North America. When recording, meticulous care is taken to exclude man-made sounds, or the sounds of domestic animals. A pristine audio experience of wilderness is the result...
Pelagics - New England Seabirds
http://www.NESeabirds.comTo promote pelagic birding and the conservation of seabirds in New England. Natural history of the seabirds and something about the whales and dolphins. Where to see pelagic birds from land and how to take a pelagic trip. Visiting seabird colonies in Maine, Nova Scotia, eastern Canada and Newfoundland. Hints for taking your first pelagic trip. Reports of birds seen. Not for profit, no sales, no advertising.
The Birds of North America Online
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bnaAccess to the undoubtedly excellent site is, unfortunately, by annual subscription, currently $40 for individuals...
Tom Hince's World of Birds
http://www.netcore.ca/~peleetom/webdoc11.htmHi and welcome to my World of Birds homepage. If you like birds, or would like to learn about them, you've come to the right place. Our bird sanctuary is full of all kinds of species. Each bird is presented with an image, a description, and a birdcall. Photographs and cameos of many North American birds...
Watching Birds in Canada
http://www.spruceroots.org/Birds/Canada.htmlWe add greatly to our growing Canadian bird list here as nuthatches, chickadees, hummingbirds, and grosbeaks all live within a stones-throw of the honey house. We also watch a sapsucker boldly girdling their newly planted, burgeoning fruit trees. The paradox of protection! The sapsucker finally leaves, as do we, with our friends best wishes for the journey and a pail of honey for the road...
artists |
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Garry Coldwells’ Bird Photography
http://www.birdphotograph.comExcellent shots from the Canadian photographer…
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