Our Programs
.
Frontenac Breeding Birds (May-August)
.
Cerulean Warbler (S.Leckie)
.
The North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) indicates that relative to other areas of Southern Ontario, the Frontenac Arch has a “high proportion of forest, shrubland and low intensity agricultural habitats” and that diversity of breeding birds is “exceptionally high” (Ontario Partners in Flight 2006).
The Frontenac Arch is an extraordinary region for breeding bird populations in Ontario. The Frontenac Arch is a junction of five distinct ecoregions: the Mixedwood Plains, St. Lawrence Lowlands, Boreal Shield, Laurentian Mixed Forest and Eastern Broadleaf Forest. The resulting matrix of breeding bird species on the Frontenac Arch is considerably diverse. A total of fifteen bird species classified as Species At Risk occur or have occurred historically on the Frontenac Arch. Of these, Cerulean Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Golden-winged Warbler and Red-shouldered Hawk, among others, occur in the region in nationally significant densities.
Frontenac Breeding Birds, the flagship program of our FBS project, was designed as an integrated approach to monitoring – an approach that concurrently derives both annual primary demographic statistics and basic population parameters of breeding landbirds. In 2009, the program utilized a point count regime throughout a defined study area to systematically assess relative abundance, species richness and distribution through the combined use of roadside and off-road point count surveys. We also began annual assessments of breeding bird demographics through the installation of the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program and a nest monitoring scheme. At present, primary demographic data (e.g. productivity, adult survivorship, parasitism/predation rates) are absent for most if not all bird species in the region. The North American Bird Conservation Initiative has identified avian demographics as a primary monitoring objective for “species or study areas of high management concern/interest” in the Ontario region (Ontario Partners in Flight 2006). Data on vital rates such as productivity, survivorship, fidelity and recruitment are critical to the detection and reversal of causal factors in population trends. The first year of field studies alone has generated a previously non-existent database on breeding bird demography for this region – a vital platform for long-term monitoring and research.
.
Our Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship Stations
Rock Ridge (RRID) – Frontenac Provincial Park
.
The RRID station was chosen primarily for its appropriate geographical situation, a long scrubby ridge bound by water on three sides – ideal for channeling late summer post-breeding dispersal. The site also had a diverse breeding bird community with large numbers of White-throated Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Black-and-white Warbler and Nashville Warbler, among others. This site was burned over around 1930 and is very slowly regenerating due to the shallow till and expanses of exposed bedrock. Vegetation cover ranges from open mixed woodland to successional deciduous forest to rock scrub barrens.
.
Maplewood Bog (MABO) – Devil Lake
.
.
The MABO station was installed on crown land on the north side of Devil Lake Road, north of Frontenac Provincial Park. Like HELA, the crown land parcel is relatively small and surrounded by largely undisturbed private lands. The name Maplewood Bog was chosen for the site because of the predominance of mid-succession Sugar Maple forest and the presence of multiple bogs. MABO also features smaller components of rock scrub barren habitat and mixed open woodlands. This site was particularly attractive for its lower lying Sugar Maple-Oak forest and preponderance of small/shrubby wetlands. Of all the stations, it was clear that MABO had the densest and most varied population of breeding avifauna. Dominant species included Veery, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush and American Redstart.
.
MAPS Species Coverage
.
The following species are being monitored in sufficient sample size to generate analysis of vital rates – productivity, survivorship, recruitment and fidelity.
Red-eyed Vireo
American Robin
Veery
Black-and-white Warbler
Black-capped Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Northern Waterthrush
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Gray Catbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Hairy Woodpecker
Nashville Warbler
Ovenbird
Wood Thrush
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Baltimore Oriole
Black-billed Cuckoo
Blue Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Common Grackle
White-breasted Nuthatch
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-shafted Flicker
.
Nest Monitoring
.
Nest searching and monitoring can be labour intensive, however a well designed and executed study produces significant benefits, including an ability to discern patterns of nest-success, predation, parasitism and relationships of these patterns to specific habitat variables. In 2009, as an adjunct to our MAPS studies, we employed a nest search/monitoring component. The information collected is of considerable value to the Frontenac Breeding Birds program as well as to the ongoing provincial/regional schemes (e.g. Ontario Nest Records Scheme (ONRS) and Project Nestwatch).
.
Species at Risk
.
.
The remarkable diversity of bird species on the Frontenac Axis, including fifteen Species At Risk, is cause for extensive monitoring and stewardship. FBS staff and volunteers carefully georeference and document any rare species detected during all fieldwork operations within the breeding season and also conduct inventories and studies of select species on an ongoing basis. This effort will greatly enhance current knowledge of density and distribution of rare species in the area. At present, efforts are being directed to the following species of high conservation concern include Whip-poor-will, Common Nighthawk, Cerulean Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Prairie Warbler.
