MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) Program Summer 2009 Summary

This summer marked the third season of bird banding at Beaver Creek Conservation Area as a member of a program called MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). Conceived by the Institute of Bird Populations in California, MAPS gathers data from over 500 participating members throughout Canada, Mexico and the continental United States. Beaver Creek is one of two stations in Saskatchewan. All birds captured were banded, unless previously banded, and then released back into their habitat. This year a total of 128 birds were newly banded. Within this number 19 different species were found:

• American Goldfinch
• American Redstart
• American Robin
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Brown Thrasher
• Cedar Waxwing
• Clay-coloured Sparrow
• Gray Catbird
• House Wren
• Least Flycatcher
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow
• Orange-crowned Warbler
• Ovenbird
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Song Sparrow
• Spotted Towhee
• Tennessee Warbler
• and Yellow Warbler.

Each bird receives a uniquely
numbered aluminum band

Recaptured birds from previous years are one of the highlights of bird banding This year 9 birds were recaptured from 2007 and 8 birds from 2008. It is known that birds tend to use the same breeding territory again and again, so we were delighted to have several of our return birds turn up in the very same net they were originally captured in! Beaver Creek should continue to find return birds, since birds use the same site every year if they are finding what they need to survive and raise a family. Returns of migratory birds this year included the Gray Catbird, House Wren, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Song Sparrow, Veery, and Yellow Warbler, as well as the non-migratory Black-capped Chickadee.  Overall bird numbers were lower than our last two years. It would take several years of similar data to establish if this summer represents a trend in population decline. Time will only tell.

Volunteers, Chantal Gagnon banding
and Kenton Lysak recording

The success of MAPS is based on extended monitoring and the aid of volunteers to help carry out their program. The Beaver Creek Conservation Area MAPS program is a group effort between Meewasin Valley Authority staff and public volunteers. The volunteers have been a key reason to the success of the project. Volunteers who participated in this years banding include: Greg Fenty, Colin French, Melanie Elliott, Jan Shadick, Stan Shadick, Kenton Lysak, Katherine Diduck, Robert Nelson, Brennan Hefler, Chantal Gagnon, Monika Tan, Karen Wiebe, Candace Neufeld, Alison Baudry, Vanessa O Malley, Bonnie Lindgren, Nicole Lindgren and Angela Lindgren. Thank you to everyone! Until next year when our birds come back again to settle down for another summer at Beaver Creek. The success of MAPS is based on extended monitoring and the aid of volunteers to help carry out their program. The Beaver Creek Conservation Area MAPS program is a group effort between Meewasin Valley Authority staff and public volunteers. The volunteers have been a key reason to the success of the project. Volunteers who participated in this years banding include: Greg Fenty, Colin French, Melanie Elliott, Jan Shadick, Stan Shadick, Kenton Lysak, Katherine Diduck, Robert Nelson, Brennan Hefler, Chantal Gagnon, Monika Tan, Karen Wiebe, Candace Neufeld, Alison Baudry, Vanessa O Malley, Bonnie Lindgren, Nicole Lindgren and Angela Lindgren. Thank you to everyone! Until next year when our birds come back again to settle down for another summer at Beaver Creek.