The SONG SPARROW Bird Protection Quebec - Protection des oiseaux du Québec December 2018 (61.3)
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The SONG SPARROW
Bird Protection Quebec - Protection des oiseaux du Québec December 2018 (61.3)
For the Birds since 1917
Pour les oiseaux depuis 1917
Bird Protection Quebec is a registered charity: Cover Photo
Donations are tax deductible.
Charity Registration #: 11925 2161 RR0001. © Richard Gregson 2018
Principal Officers
President: Jane Cormack
Vice-Presidents: Sheldon Harvey, Connie Morgenstern
In this Issue
Treasurer: Sheldon Harvey
President’s Word 1
Secretary: Helen Meredith
Hawkwatching around Montreal 3
Membership Secretary: Darlene Harvey Bird Views 8
Contact: Bird Protection Quebec Monday Night Lectures 12
Box 67089 – Lemoyne
Past Field Trips: April to July 15
Saint-Lambert, QC J4R 2T8
Tel.: 514-637-2141 Upcoming Field Trips 18
E-mail: birdprotectionquebec@gmail.com
Website: www.birdprotectionquebec.org
Online discussion group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Songsparrow
The Song Sparrow: ISSN 1710-3371
Legal Deposit: National Library and Archives of Canada
Publication Mail No.: 40044323
Newsletter Editor & Layout: Jane Cormack cormackjane@gmail.com
Cover Design: Richard Gregson sparroworks@gmail.com
Bird Views: Pierre Bannon pbannon@videotron.ca
i
President’s Word
– A Happy New
Year to All
by Jane Cormack
BPQ President
As 2018 draws to a close, we’d like to
thank you for your continuing support
throughout the first year of our second
century.
Highlights of the year include the election
of several new conservation-minded,
enthusiastic, and knowledgeable
directors to our board. We look forward
to working together to fulfill our mandate
in education, conservation, and
observations (ECO). Perhaps you would
like to join us. We’ll be recruiting new
directors during the next few months
leading up to our AGM in May. If you’d
like to learn more, contact us
birdprotectionquebec@gmal.com
The purchase of the Montée Biggar Brewster’s Warbler. Protecting bird
property brought us the most exciting habitat is one of the most important
Snowy Owl things that we are able to do.
moment of the year. We are grateful for © Chuck Kling 2018
the opportunity to protect his fabulous
bird rich site – one of the best-known We’ll arrange a trip there this spring.
We have formed a project group and we Keep reading this newsletter and stay
birding sites in southwestern Quebec
with 176 species reported over the past are committed to developing a tuned to our e-mail forum and social
management plan to protect this land media pages for further developments
ten years and 1,070 checklists submitted
particularly for the Golden-winged and details.
to eBird.
Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler and
Bird Protection Quebec 1
Our winter season of lectures kicks off on
Membership
I
January 7 with Lisa Mintz’s talk The
Falaise Saint-Jacques: The Evolution of an
Ecoterritory. Enjoy this dynamic
Renewal – Last
presentation. Come out and learn more
about this wilderness in the heart of the
Call
city.
by Darlene Harvey
Membership Secretary
Our winter series of field trips kicks off on
bSTmembership@gmail.com
January 12 with a trip to the Montreal
Botanical Garden. We hope that you’ll join
The annual membership renewal period
us as we look for winter finches.
is over and we thank all of you who have
renewed for the coming year. We cannot
Make 2019 your year to get more
do what we do without you and your
involved. If you’d like to find out more,
commitment to BPQ is greatly Snowy Owl © Chuck Kling
contact us at
appreciated. 2018
birdprotectionquebec@gmail.com.
Note to New Members: You can easily renew online at: https://
pqspb.org/bpqpoq/product/ bpq-
New Members If you joined after March 2018, you do membership/ or by following the
not have to renew until September instructions on the same web page: To
We are happy to welcome new and 2019. Become a Member by Mail.
returning members: Nina Padden and
Annie Dunn, Lucie Labrosse, Gail Klink, For more information, contact Darlene
To those few who have not yet renewed
Solange Raymond, Hubert Gendron, Harvey at bSqmembership@gmail.com.
for this season, please be sure to do so
Stéphane Demers, and Alexandre
Demers-Potvin.
right away. We would hate to see you go
but, unfortunately, if we don’t hear from
you this issue of The Song Sparrow will
We hope to meet you on one of our
have to be your last!
weekly field trips or at a monthly
meeting!
Bird Protection Quebec 2
Hawkwatching
around Montreal
by Bob Barnhurst and
Mabel McIntosh
In 2018 we completed our 38th spring
and 39th fall counts. Our 40th
anniversary year will be a very special one
for us. By then, we will have completed
approximately 20 years of hawkwatching,
i.e. 2-1/2 months each spring and 3-1/2
months each fall, not counting days that
the weather was bad.
In all those years we have steadfastly
counted hawks from approximately 8.00
- 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 - 5.00 pm., EST,
which we like to call Hawk Time. During
that period BPQ, or as some of us still like
to call it, PQSPB, has seen many different
presidents and directors joining and
Broad-winged Hawks in a “kettling” high above the Montreal fall hawk site. These
leaving the board of the society, all of
birds were part of a larger single kettle of over 400 birds.
whom have supported this project. We
thank them all, as well as all the
members.
noted their plumage and structural Broad-winged Hawk
As you might expect, over those forty makeup, even some aspects not recorded
years we have learned a thing or two before. We hope to present some of
about hawkwatching, particularly these findings at a monthly meeting in If you were to ask hawkwatchers what
identification of more distant hawks. For the near future. their favourite migrant hawks are, most,
example, we have learned to identify if not all, would answer Broad-winged
distant eagles, especially immatures and Hawks (hereafter Broadwings). At most
sub-adults, to both species and age. We sites, particularly in the east, Broadwings
have learned their flight patterns and are by far the most numerous hawks seen
Bird Protection Quebec 3
is truly amazing. They cover 6-8,000 km As a result, counts of Broadwings show a
each way, entirely under their own steam. lot of variance, far more than other
Added to which, they, are far as we know, species. This variance produces counts
eat little on the way. that vary considerably from year-to-year,
especially in the spring (wherein counts
For us, sighting a kettle of Broadwings is are typically lower) when the flocks have
what it is all about. (See the picture on the been travelling for months at a time in
previous page and click on this link to see order to reach this latitude. This
a video of Broadwings kettling https:// variability can be seen in the chart shown
youtu.be/Mrs9cOuFqzo That swirling mass below. Note that the highest yearly count
raises one’s spirits like no other. recorded was in 1981, when 8,387
Montreal is located near the northern Broadwings were counted in the fall, most
limit of the breeding range of this small being seen over a 10-day period between
buteo, so we do not see the numbers of September 6 and September 16. This
Broadwings that more southerly sites proved to be a standout season because
observe. Nevertheless, the spectacle is of the weather conditions prevailing at
still awe inspiring. We have taken many the time. In brief, light-to-moderate
photographs of Broadwings in these easterly winds, changing to light westerly
“huddled masses” and even recorded winds, followed the passage of the
Classic profile of a Broad-winged movies.
Hawk gliding very high above the fall
hawkwatch site. It is the very nature of how they migrate
that affects the height, direction and
Typically, they migrate in large groups, number of migrating Broadwings. Light
called kettles, 100s or 1000s strong. winds will drift kettles of hawks; however,
They rely heavily on thermals to assist strong winds will break up the thermals
their migration. They save energy by and disperse the birds. Brisk winds force
doing this, rising up in the columns of the birds to flap more than soar. In the
warm air and then gliding from one spring, the passage of warm fronts
thermal to another. They need to stimulates the hawks to migrate, with
conserve energy because they migrate light-to-moderate southerly winds
further than any other species of hawk in providing the best conditions. In the fall,
North America, some reaching as far the opposite is true. Cold fronts, with
associated cool northerly breezes, An adult Broad-winged Hawk low
south as Argentina in 2 to 2-1/2 months. overhead
They turn around just two months later produce the better flights. The effects of
and travel back north. This achievement the weather, particularly the wind, results
in hawks migrating over a broader front.
Bird Protection Quebec 4
Seasonal totals of the fall and 1,500–2,000 in the spring. Trendlines for fall and spring seasonal
Broad-winged Hawks, Montreal During both seasons we have totals of Broad-winged Hawks, Montreal
occasionally recorded single kettles of
Broadwings exceeding 500 birds. In one
remnants of a hurricane up the east correlation coefficient is much lower
case, during the fall migration, a kettle
coasof North America. The storm than 1. Nevertheless, a trend curve is still
formed from birds that arose from local
produced cloud as far west as Montreal, calculable. In this case, following an
woods along Chemin de l' Anse-à-
dissuading many birds from crossing the increase in totals in the early 1980s, the
l'Orme, they having roosted there
St. Lawrence River further east. A warm trend line shows a slow but steady decline
overnight. In another instance, late one
front, with record-breaking high in Broadwing numbers, especially from
afternoon in May, hundreds of birds came
temperatures – resulting from a the late 80s on. This is in keeping with
down, some sitting on power lines and
combination of an intense low-pressure the decline of this and other hawk species
towers, clearly visible. As darkness fell
system to the east and a large Bermuda over the same period, both here and
the birds moved into woods to roost
high pumping tropical air northward – led elsewhere. The reasons for this, as we
overnight.
to a similar standout season in spring have discussed before, are multifaceted.
1990, the total reaching 4,122 However, scientific reasoning strongly
The variance in the year-to-year numbers
Broadwings. Most were seen between implicates global warming, which has
prevent us from plotting a best fit line
April 25 to April 29. More typical seasonal
with a high level of confidence. The
highs are in the 2,000-3,500 range for
Bird Protection Quebec 5
changed the many variables in a negative
way. Only time will tell if this decline can
be reversed.
Besides the numbers of hawks seen there
are other observations that we have
recorded over the years. One is that we
have very rare sightings of both albino
and melanistic Broadwings. Another is
that Sharp-shinned Hawks commonly
ride along with the Broadwings in the
same kettles. However, they are always
seen at the very top of the column and
often harass their larger companions.
Bald Eagles can also be seen with the
Broadwings, as they often migrate during
the same period.
Next time: Red-tailed Hawk
Last Day: Don’t miss out on this chance to pre-order your copy
of the 2nd edition of the Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas.
Bird Protection Quebec 6
Bird Views Parlons d’oiseaux
A summary of interesting bird Un bilan des observations
sightings in Montréal and around intéressantes à Montréal et à travers
the province of Québec la province de Québec
August - November 2018 Août - novembre 2018
by Pierre Bannon par Pierre Bannon
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: one continued until 14 Aug at Dendrocygne à ventre noir: un oiseau toujours présent jusqu’au
Parc Nature Pointe-au-Prairies (Montréal) and then reappeared 14 août au Parc Nature Pointe-au-Prairies (Montréal) est
21 Oct-4 Nov (Y. Gauthier, m.ob.). Mute Swan: singles at réapparu du 21 oct au 4 nov (Y. Gauthier, pl. ob.). Cygne
Drummondville 1-7 Aug (F. Bourret) and from four localities, all tuberculé: des oiseaux à Drummondville 1-7 août (F. Bourret) et
near the east end of Montréal 22 Aug- 22 Sep (m. ob.). dans 4 localités, toutes proches de la partie est de Montréal 22
Trumpeter Swan: the 2 birds that summered at Saint-Fulgence août- 22 sep (pl. ob.). Cygne trompette: les 2 oiseaux présents
(Saguenay) remained until 21 Oct (C. Cormier, G. Savard) while cet été à Saint-Fulgence (Saguenay) ont quitté 21 oct (C.
2 others appeared briefly at Adstock 25-26 Oct (A. Girard, A. Cormier, G. Savard) puis 2 sont apparus à Adstock 25-26 oct (A.
Gagné, G. Châteauneuf). Canvasback: up to 10 birds at Laval 20- Girard, A. Gagné, G. Châteauneuf). Fuligule à dos blanc: près de
29 Oct (G. Lachaine et al), and 3 at Candiac 8-11 Nov. Harlequin 10 oiseaux à Laval 20-29 oct (G. Lachaine et al), et 3 à Candiac
Duck: one at LaSalle (Montréal) 22 Nov (JM. Lacoste). White- 8-11 nov (pl. ob.). Arlequin plongeur: un à LaSalle (Montréal) 22
winged Dove: one at Pointe-aux-Outardes 21 Sep (E. Hains, nov (JM. Lacoste). Tourterelle à ailes blanches: une à Pointe-
E. Brotherton). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: only 4 records this fall. aux-Outardes 21 sep (E. Hains, E. Brotherton). Coulicou à bec
Rufous Hummingbird: an imm male was nicely photographed at jaune: seulement 4 mentions pour la période. Colibri roux: un
Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies 3 Sep (C. Auchu, C. Girard). BROAD- mâle imm photographié à Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies 3 sep (C.
BILLED HUMMINGBIRD: the most spectacular find of the season Auchu, C. Girard). COLIBRI CIRCÉ: la trouvaille la plus fantastique
was a male frequenting a feeder at a private residence at Saint- de la saison fut un mâle présent à un abreuvoir d’une résidence
Lambert-de-Lauzon 18-29 Sep, a FIRST RECORD for the privée à Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon 18-29 sep, une PREMIÈRE
province (J. Pedneau, m.ob.). Surprisingly, the bird was later MENTION au Québec (J. Pedneau, pl.ob.). Étonnamment, l’oiseau
reported at another residence 200 meters away where it was last fut signalé à une autre résidence située à 200 mètres de distance
seen 22 Nov (fide G. Lord). où il a été vu jusqu’au 22 nov (fide G. Lord).
7
Purple Gallinule: single imm were photographed at Oujé- Talève violaçé: des imm photographiés à Oujé-Bougoumou (Baie
Bougoumou (James Bay) 17 Oct (K. Lamarche) and at Chandler James) 17 oct (K. Lamarche) et à Chandler 8 nov (G. Roy, P.
8 Nov (G. Roy, P. Poulin). Marbled Godwit: singles at Philipsburg Poulin). Barge marbrée: des oiseaux à Philipsburg 30 août (G.
30 Aug (G. Éthier) and at Tadoussac 7-14 Sep (M. Hornstein). Éthier) et à Tadoussac 7-14 sep (M. Hornstein). Bécasseau
Buff-breasted Sandpiper: very few reported this fall. Western roussâtre: peu d’oiseaux signalés cet automne. Bécasseau
Sandpiper: a juv at Portneuf-sur-Mer 17 Aug (A. Desrochers). d’Alaska: un juv à Portneuf-sur-Mer 17 août (A. Desrochers).
Long-billed Dowitcher: only 2 reports this fall: Saint-Lazare 14- Bécassin à long bec: seulement 2 présences cet automne: Saint-
16 Sep (D. Collins), and Yamachiche 1-2 Oct (S. Blackburn, S. Lazare 14-16 sep (D. Collins), et Yamachiche 1-2 oct (S.
Lemieux). Willet: one at Pointe-aux-Outardes 26 Aug-1 Sep Blackburn, S. Lemieux). Chevalier semipalmé: un à Pointe-aux-
(E. Brotherton, E. Hains). Pacific Loon: one at Pointe-au-Père 19 Outardes 26 août-1 sep (E. Brotherton, E. Hains). Plongeon du
Sep (R. Deschesnes et al.), 2 at Grande-Rivière 23 Sep (D. Jalbert Pacifique: un à Pointe-au-Père 19 sep (R. Deschesnes et al.), 2 à
et al.), and one at Lévis 6 Oct (G. Lemelin). Grande-Rivière 23 sep (D. Jalbert et al.), et un à Lévis 6 oct
(G. Lemelin).
Magnificent Frigatebird: an ad female spotted from a fishing
boat 16 Sep about 30 km west of Cap-aux-Meules (Les Îles-de- Frégate superbe: une femelle ad. identifiée à partir d’un bateau
la-Madeleine) (ph., JF. Rousseau, M. Dufour). American White de pêche 16 sep environ 30 km à l’ouest de Cap-aux-Meules
Pelican: one at Berthier-sur-Mer 30 Aug (C. Deschênes). Great (Les Îles-de- la-Madeleine) (ph. JF. Rousseau, M. Dufour).
Blue Heron: a surprising “white-morph” or leucistic bird was Pélican d’Amérique: un à Berthier-sur-Mer 30 août (C.
photographed at Melbourne (Estrie) 27 Sep (C. Lahaye, M. Deschênes). Grand Héron: un oiseau tout blanc photographié à
Cloutier). Cattle Egret: only 2 birds reported this fall: Saint- Melbourne (Estrie) 27 sep (C. Lahaye, M. Cloutier). Héron garde-
Ferdinand 30 Oct-7 Nov (B. Lemay et al.), and Sainte-Anne-de- boeufs: seulement 2 oiseaux signalés cet automne: Saint-
Bellevue 2 Nov (E. Brisson-Curadeau). Glossy Ibis: a juv reported Ferdinand 30 oct-7 nov (B. Lemay et al.), et Sainte-Anne-de-
at Val Bélair (Québec City) 18 Aug (P. Lane, M. Raymond). Bellevue 2 nov (E. Brisson-Curadeau). Ibis falcinelle: un juv à Val
ROSEATE SPOONBILL: an imm was nicely photographed during Bélair (Québec City) 18 août (P. Lane, M. Raymond). SPATULE
its very brief stay at Saint-Martin-de-Beauce 7 Aug, a FIRST ROSÉE: un imm bien photographié lors d’un bref arrêt à Saint-
RECORD for the province (D. & JD. Morin). Black Vulture: singles Martin-de-Beauce 7 août, une PREMIÈRE MENTION pour la
at Saint-Hyacinthe 17 Sep (N. Roy) and at Rouyn-Noranda 4 Oct province (D. & JD. Morin). Urubu noir: des oiseaux à Saint-
(P. Bonafant). Hyacinthe 17 sep (N. Roy) et à Rouyn-Noranda 4 oct (P.
Bonafant).
Red-bellied Woodpecker: significant post-breeding dispersal
this fall; 5 were reported in Gaspésie and one reached Cap-aux- Pic à ventre roux: dispersion importante vers l’est cet automne;
Meules (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) 17 Oct (DG. Gaudet, C. Roy). 5 signalés en Gaspésie et un à Cap-aux-Meules (Les Îles-de-la-
Say’s Phoebe: one at Les Bergeronnes 12 Sep (J. Roy-Drainville Madeleine) 17 oct (DG. Gaudet, C. Roy). Moucherolle à ventre
et al.). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: one at La Minerve 6 Aug roux: un à Les Bergeronnes 12 sep (J. Roy-Drainville et al.). Tyran
(F. Mathieu). Fork-tailed Flycatcher: singles at Normandin 1-10 à longue queue: un à La Minerve 6 août (F. Mathieu). Tyran des
Sep (J. St-Hilaire, m.ob.) and at Baie du Portage (Les Îles-de-la- savanes: des oiseaux à Normandin 1-10 sep (J. St-Hilaire, pl.ob.)
Madeleine) 1-5 Oct (DG. Gaudet, C. Roy). Tree Swallow: good et à Baie du Portage (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) 1-5 oct (DG.
8numbers reported well into Nov; the last 2 birds were seen at Gaudet, C. Roy). Hirondelle bicolore: présence marquée jusqu’en
Sainte-Catherine 20 Nov following several nights with nov; les 2 derniers oiseaux ont été aperçus à Sainte-Catherine
temperatures at less than -10 C. (L. Lemay). White-eyed Vireo: 20 nov suite à quelques nuits avec des températures inférieures
one at the Montréal Botanical Gardens 24 Oct-21 Nov à -10 C. (L. Lemay). Viréo aux yeux blancs: un au jardin
(E. Brisson-Curadeau, J. Brisson, m.ob.). botanique de Montréal 24 oct-21 nov (E. Brisson-Curadeau, J.
Brisson, pl.ob.).
Northern Wheatear: a total of 4 reports: Rivière-Trois-Pistoles
11-17 Sep (JE. Joubert), Lévis 26 Sep (J. Bernier), Longue-Pointe- Traquet motteux: un total de 4 présences: Rivière-Trois-Pistoles
de-Mingan 28 Sep (M. Priéto), and Rivière-aux-Outardes 21 Oct 11-17 sep (JE. Joubert), Lévis 26 sep (J. Bernier), Longue-Pointe-
(D. St-Laurent). Townsend’s Solitaire: one at La Baie 23-24 Nov de-Mingan 28 sep (M. Priéto), et Rivière-aux-Outardes 21 oct
(A. Lavoie et al.). Louisiana Waterthrush: one nicely (D. St-Laurent). Solitaire de Townsend: un à La Baie 23-24 nov
photographed at North Hatley 12 Aug (A. Côté, G. Lemelin, M. (A. Lavoie et al.). Paruline hochequeue: une très bien
Raymond et al.). Prairie Warbler: a total of 4 birds reported: Île photographiée à North Hatley 12 août (A. Côté, G. Lemelin, M.
des Soeurs (Montréal) 23-25 Aug (B. Bellocq, m.ob.), Québec Raymond et al.). Paruline des prés: 4 présences signalées: île des
City 19 Sep (D. Campeau et al), Parc Forillon (Gaspé) 22 Sep Soeurs (Montréal) 23-25 août (B. Bellocq, pl.ob.), Québec 19 sep
(D. Jalbert), Cap Tourmente 30 Sep (L. Messely, JF. Bédard). (D. Campeau et al), Parc Forillon (Gaspé) 22 sep (D. Jalbert), Cap
Yellow-breasted Chat: one was banded at the Cap Tourmente Tourmente 30 sep (L. Messely, JF. Bédard). Ictérie polyglotte: une
banding station 22 Sep (PA. Dumas et al.). baguée à la station du Cap Tourmente 22 sep (PA. Dumas et al.).
Lark Sparrow: an ad at Bonaventure 30 Sep (J. Charette). Bruant à joues marron: un ad à Bonaventure 30 sep (J. Charette).
Grasshopper Sparrow: one at Saint-Basile (Portneuf) 1st Oct (S. Bruant sauterelle: un à Saint-Basile (Portneuf) 1e oct (S.
Blackburn, S. Lemieux). Nelson’s Sparrow: up to 4 birds at Blackburn, S. Lemieux). Bruant de Nelson: jusqu’à 4 oiseaux à la
Pumpkinseed Bay (Grenville-sur-la-Rouge) 1-13 Oct (J. Bouvier). baie Pumpkinseed (Grenville-sur-la-Rouge) 1-13 oct (J.
Summer Tanager: a high total of 4 records: Pierrefonds Bouvier). Piranga vermillon: un total élevé de 4 présences:
(Montréal) 27 Sep (E. and J. Horack), Bécancour 1-12 Nov (F. Pierrefonds (Montréal) 27 sep (E. and J. Horack), Bécancour 1-12
Arbour, m.ob.), Matapédia 7 Nov (C. Pitre), and Sherbrooke 9 nov (F. Arbour, pl. ob.), Matapédia 7 nov (C. Pitre), et Sherbrooke
Nov (S. Mercier). Indigo Bunting: one at Les Escoumins 11 Nov 9 nov (S. Mercier). Passerin indigo: un à Les Escoumins 11 nov
was late (D. Turgeon, C. Émond). Dickcissel: a total of 9 birds était tardif (D. Turgeon, C. Émond). Dickcissel d’Amérique: un
reported, mainly in eastern Québec. Western Meadowlark: one at total de 9 oiseaux signalés, la plupart dans l’est de la province.
Pabos Mills 8 Oct-6 Nov (W. De Merchant). Orchard Oriole: a Sturnelle de l’Ouest: une à Pabos Mills 8 oct-6 nov (W. De
male was present at Saint-Ferdinand 8 Aug (J. Carpentier) and a Merchant). Oriole des vergers: un mâle était présent à Saint-
female the following day (G. Huot, J. Carpentier). Ferdinand 8 août (J. Carpentier) et une femelle le lendemain
(G. Huot, J. Carpentier).
Please report your interesting bird observations to: Pierre
Bannon, Tel: 450-905-1127 after 7:00 p.m. or preferably by Signalez vos observations intéressantes à: Pierre Bannon, tél.:
e-mail at. : pbannon@videotron.ca 450-905-1127 après 19:00 ou préfrablement par courriel à
pbannon@videotron.ca
9Monday Night Lectures Southwest called the Dalle Parc and a beautifully vegetated path
along the bottom. This will stretch from Montreal West to
Westmount. Come explore this hidden gem and meet the birds
Falaise Saint-Jacques: The Evolution that inhabit it.
of an Ecoterritory
Walk the Falaise Saint-Jacques
Date: TBD: Stay tuned for details.
A two-hour walk will be arranged later in 2019. It will begin at
the eastern side of the Quilles G Plus Rose Bowl bowling alley,
located at 6510 Saint-Jacques St, Montreal, near Saint-Jacques
and Cavendish.
During the walk the past and present of the Falaise Saint-
Jacques will be illustrated. Walkers will get to see with their own
eyes the beauty and magic of the falaise St Jacques, a green
space surrounded by industry and construction, yet so peaceful
and serene, a respite for humans and nature alike. 65 species of
birds use or live in the falaise and we will see how many we can
find!
Lisa Mintz is an environmentalist and birdwatcher. She founded
A Presentation by Lisa Mintz Sauvons la falaise and is a past chair of Les Amis du Parc
Monday, January 7, 7:30 p.m. Meadowbrook. She is presently a board member of the Green
Kensington Presbyterian Church Coalition and is working to create a green belt in Montreal to
6225 Godfrey Ave., NDG link the falaise Saint-Jacques with Meadowbrook in the west,
Parc Angrignon, the Douglas Hospital Grounds and Parc des
The Falaise Saint-Jacques has undergone many changes. It Rapides in the south, and Parc Mount Royal in the east. She is
began as the side of Lac a Loutre when the Lachine Canal was also the executive director of urbaNature Education, a not-for-
created and the lake drained. For many years it was a dumping profit organization created to teach environmental education to
ground, but was transformed into a linear park by Pierre people of all ages.
Bourque, who was the chief horticulturalist for Drapeau,
though it was never open to the public. This special place is now For more information, read Lisa’s article The Falaise St. Jacques,
about to become the landmark entrance to Montreal. It will A Forgotten Wilderness in the Heart of the City in the August,
include a cycling pedestrian link between NDG and the 2016 issue of this newsletter.
Bird Protection Quebec 10Past Field Trips:
October to
November
13/10/18 – île St-Bernard,
Châteauguay
Guide: Tom Long
6°C, overcast. 8 birders; 43 species
Bird of the Day: Bald Eagle. Rusty
Blackbird
Other Birds of Note: Blue-winged Teal,
Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon,
Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon,
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Purple Finch,
Lincoln’s Sparrow
20/10/18 - Parc national
d'Oka, Oka
Guide: Wayne Grubert
Strong winds, mild, 13°C. 10 birders; 27/10/18 – William
36 species Red-tailed Hawk
Cosgrove Centennial Park, © Chuck Kling 2018
Bird of the Day: Eastern Bluebird, Dunlin
Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Other Birds of Note: White-winged Scoter,
Guides: Jean Demers and Clémence Bird of the Day: Hooded Merganser
Bufflehead, Red-tailed Hawk, Bonaparte's
Gull, Common Raven, Fox Sarrow Soulard Other Birds of Note: Blue Jay, White-
Cloudy, windy, 0°C. 11 birders; 14 breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,
species American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-
winged Blackbird
Bird Protection Quebec 1103/11/18 - Parc des
Rapides, LaSalle
Guide: Diane Demers
Light to heavy rain. 3 birders; 28 species
Bird of the Day: Greater and Lesser Scaup
Other Birds of Note: Wood Duck, Great
Blue Heron, Brown Creeper, Common
Redpoll, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle
10/11/18 – Hungry Bay, St-
Louis-de-Gonzague and
St-Timothée
Guide: Fred Hareau
Heavy winds. 6 birders; 43 species
Bird of the Day: Long-tailed Duck, Red-
necked Grebe
Other Birds of Note: Snow Goose,
Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail,
Common Loon, Great Egret, Northern Other Birds of Note: Long-tailed Duck,
Harrier, Red-bellied Woodpecker, N. Red-tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker,
Northern Shrike American Robin © Chuck Kling 2018
Shrike. Horned Lark, Tufted Titmouse,
American Tree Sparrow
Guide: Sheldon Harvey
24/11/18 – Fort Chambly
Mile and overcast morning. 11 birders:
17/11/18 – Cap-St-Jacques and Richelieu River, 19 species
Nature Park, Pierrefonds Chambly and St-Jean-sur- Bird of the Day: Snow Goose
Guide: Wayne Grubert Richelieu Other Birds of Note: Common Goldeneye,
Snow covered trails, overcast, cool. Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron,
7 birders; 28 species Gadwall, Double-crested Cormorant
Bird of the Day: Red-bellied Woodpecker
Bird Protection Quebec 12Trip Advice Upcoming Field Trips Updates: We send an update of our upcoming events every week by e-mail. This serves as a reminder and keeps you informed of any changes. It also provides additional information about trip conditions when required. If you are not receiving this e-mail, contact us at birdprotectionquebec@gmail.com. You can unsubscribe at any time. Online calendar: Consult the website as well. Questions: Contact the trip guide or post a message on the Songsparrow e-mail group. Cancellations: Trips are rarely cancelled, but check the BPQ website, just in case. Contact the trip guide when the weather is extreme. Nice to have: binoculars, field guide, scope, hat, gloves, walking shoes, extra socks, extra layers, sun screen, water, and snacks. De rigueur pour les excursions Mise à jour: Nous envoyons par courriel des mises à jour hebdomadaires sur les évènements à venir. Ils servent de rappel pour vous garder informés de tout changement. Ils fournissent des informations supplémentaires sur les particularités reliées aux excursions au besoin. Si vous ne recevez pas ces courriels, contactez-nous à : birdprotectionquebec@gmail.com. Vous pouvez annuler votre participation en tout temps. Questions/informations: Téléphonez au responsable ou contacter le American Kestrel © Chuck Kling 2018 groupe courriel Songsparrow. Annulations: En cas d'intempérie, vérifier la possibilité d'une annulation avec le responsable. Prévoir pour les sorties : Jumelles, guide, télescope, chapeau, gants, souliers de marche, bas de rechange, crème solaire, vêtements pour temps froid, bouteille d’eau, et collations. Bird Protection Quebec 13
Saturday, January 12 – an Eastern Towhee. After checking out Higgins area, our next
destination will depend on species seen recently and weather
samedi 12 janvier conditions. It may be île-St-Bernard, the Récré-O-Parc in Sainte-
Catherine or another local destination. Be prepared to walk and dress
appropriately as several of these possible destinations are close to the
water. Half day.
Montreal Botanical Garden – Jardin
From Montreal, take Hwy 138 and cross the Mercier Bridge. Stay right
botanique de Montréal coming off the bridge and take Hwy 138 through Kahnawake into
Châteauguay. As you enter Châteauguay, turn right onto Boul. St-
https://goo.gl/maps/FOQNe Francis. Follow St. Francis all the way to the end where it meets the
Châteauguay River at Blvd. Salaberry Nord. Turn right on to Salaberry
Guide: Sheldon Harvey: 450-462-1459 Nord and continue to rue Higgins and turn right. There is a small
Cell on Saturday morning 514-637-2141 ve2shw@yahoo.com parking area on the left next to the cell-phone tower.
8:00 a.m. Meet in front of the restaurant, near the entrance on 8h00 Rendez-vous à la rue Higgins. Sur la rue Higgins à Châteauguay
Sherbrooke St. East. Free parking available on both sides of Pie IX Blvd les espèces recherchées sont le Pic à ventre roux et la Mésange
Looking for winter finches. Half day. 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
8h00 Rassemblement devant le restaurant, près de l'entrée du jardin plus d'une heure comprenant un Troglodyte de Caroline ainsi qu’un
sur la rue Sherbrooke Est. Stationnement gratuit disponible sur boul Pie Tohi à flancs roux. Après avoir visité la région de Higgins, notre
IX. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d'hiver. Demi-journée. prochaine destination dépendra des espèces observées récemment et
des conditions météorologiques. Il peut s'agir de l'île-St-Bernard, du
Récré-O-Parc à Sainte-Catherine ou d'une autre destination locale.
Saturday, January 19 — Soyez prêt à marcher et à vous habiller de façon appropriée. Plusieurs
de ces destinations possibles sont proches de l'eau. Demi-journée.
samedi 19 janvier De Montréal, prendre la route 138 et traverser le pont Mercier. Restez
à droite en venant du pont et prenez l'autoroute 138 à Kahnawake dans
Châteauguay. Lorsque vous entrez dans Châteauguay, tournez à droite
Châteauguay, Rue Higgins and Area sur le boul. St-François. Suivez St. François jusqu'au bout à la
rencontre de la rivière Châteauguay au boul. Salaberry Nord. Tournez
https://goo.gl/maps/MWFd2 à droite sur Salaberry Nord et continuer jusqu'à la rue Higgins et
tournez à droite. Il y a un petit stationnement sur la gauche à côté de
Guide: Tom Long 450-692-1590 cardinalis.1997@gmail.com la tour de téléphonie cellulaire.
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
Bird Protection Quebec 14Saturday, January 26 — sortie en voiture exploratoire le long de routes peu fréquentées du
sud-ouest du Québec où POQ se rend rarement en hiver. Le
samedi 26 janvier covoiturage est fortement conseillé. Demi-journée
Southwest Québec
https://goo.gl/maps/AKwGmsUBQKT2
Guides::
Sheldon Harvey: 450-462-1459
Cell on Saturday morning 514-637-2141 ve2shw@yahoo.com
Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498
514-774-0811 (Cell - morning of trip only / le matin de la sortie
seulement) wgrubert@hotmail.com
8:00 a.m. Meet in Ormstown, at Petro-Canada gas station-Tim
Hortons, crossroads of Hwy 201 and Hwy 138. From Montreal take the
Mercier Bridge and follow Hwy 138 to Ormstown. From the West Island
take Hwy 40 -20 west then take highway 30 (toll). Take 530 toward
Salaberry de Valleyfield. Take exit 9 from 530. Turn left onto Boulevard
Pie-XII. Continue onto Pont St. and onto Rang du 40. Turn right on 138
west, following signs for Ormstown. Turn left on Hwy 201 in
Ormstown. Petro-Canada Station is located a few hundred meters on
the right. This will be an exploratory driving trip along some of the
back roads of SW Quebec that BPQ rarely visits in winter. Carpooling is
highly advised. Half Day.
8h00 Rassemblement à Ormstown, à la station Petro-Canada – Tim
Pine Grosbeak © Chuck Kling 2018
Hortons au croisement des routes 201 et 138. De Montréal, prendre le
pont Mercier. Tourner à gauche sur la route 138 jusqu’à Ormstown. De
l’Ouest-de-l’Île de Montréal, prendre l’autoroute 40-20 direction
ouest puis l’autoroute 30 (péage). Prendre l’autoroute 530 en direction
de Salaberry de Valleyfield. Prendre la sortie 9, puis tourner à gauche
sur la route Pie XII. Continuer sur la Route du Pont puis sur le Rang du
40. Tournez à droite sur la route 138 et suivez les directions vers
Ormstown. A Ormstown, prendre la route 201 vers le sud, sur quelques
centaines de mètres jusqu’à la station Petro-Canada. Ce sera une
Bird Protection Quebec 15Saturday 2 February - Saturday, February 9 —
samedi 2 février samedi 9 février
Mount Royal Cemetery - Cimetière Ste-Marthe, St-Clet, Ste-Justine
Mont-Royal https://goo.gl/maps/pHfxmt1EJuH2
https://goo.gl/maps/sJBezqt2fTs Guide: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498
or on the morning of the trip 514-774-0811
Guides: wgrubert6@gmail.com
Chuck Kling 514-277-2567 Cell 514-518-4622 (Morning of trip) 8:00 a.m. Meet at Hudson Inn, exit 17 off Highway 40. From Montreal,
hootpix@gmail.com take Highway 40 west towards Ottawa. Allow an hour's drive from
Montreal. Looking for Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Snow
George Levtchouk 438-345-2866 (Morning of the trip only) Buntings and other open-country winter birds. Bring warm clothes for
beebee@videotron.ca standing around or taking short walks (or in case weather conditions
dictate a complete change of itinerary). We will try to keep the number
8:00 a.m. Meet at the main gate to the cemetery on chemin de la Forêt, of cars to a minimum; therefore, carpooling arranged ahead of time
Outremont. Looking for winter birds. Half day. and/or at our rendezvous would be greatly appreciated. Half day.
8h00 Rassemblement à la porte principale du cimetière sur le chemin 8h00 Rassemblement au Hudson Inn, sortie 17 de l'autoroute 40. De
de la Forêt, à Outremont. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d'hiver. Demi- Montréal, prendre l'autoroute 40 Ouest, en direction d'Ottawa. Prévoir
journée. une heure à partir de Montréal. Espèces recherchées : Harfang des
neiges, Buse pattue, Bruant des neiges et autres oiseaux d'hiver.
Apportez 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.
Bird Protection Quebec 16You can also read
