By Claire Elliott

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The 2014-2015 OFNC Birds Committee.

Every month a dedicated group of OFNC bird enthusiasts meet at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden to discuss bird-related news in the Ottawa region and to plan bird-related events and conservation initiatives. If you have participated in a bird-related OFNC event, visited a bird feeder located in an Ottawa greenspace, or requested help with an ID from identifications@ofnc.ca, there is a good chance you have come in contact with the work of the OFNC Birds Committee.

Weekly Bird Report for Ottawa/Gatineau Region

Every week, notable sightings data is packaged into a report and disseminated on the Ontario Field Ornithologist’s OntBirds email list, the OFNC website, and the OFNC Facebook page. If you are thinking about going birding in the Ottawa region, these reports are a great resource for finding local birding hotspots at any time of year. Due to increasing and widespread concerns regarding disturbance of wildlife and property, the OFNC Birds Committee no longer reports owl sightings on the internet, though reporting of all bird occurrences to the committee is encouraged for the maintenance of local records.  Please direct your sightings to sightings@ofnc.ca.

Christmas Bird Count

Since the inaugural Ottawa event in 1920, the OFNC has participated in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Each December, the Birds Committee in partnership with Club des ornithologues de l’Outaouais organizes the Ottawa/Gatineau chapter of the count.  New and seasoned volunteers are encouraged to participate each year.  The 2014 report will be available shortly on the OFNC website.  As well, a write-up on the 2014 event appeared on this blog in late December.

Falcon

Clementine, one of three chicks from the 2014 Data Centre brood, tests the wind, June 29, 2014.

Peregrine FalconWatch

The Ottawa Peregrine FalconWatch began in 1997 as an initiative to protect local nesting falcons and promote the recovery of the species. Each summer, volunteers monitor Peregrine chicks and wait for the young to make their first attempt at flight.  Once the young birds gain their wings, volunteers ensure the safety of chicks, rescuing them after any crashes, returning the chicks to the nest, or if necessary seeking medical attention for the chicks.  A detailed account of the last FalconWatch season can be found on the FalconWatch website.

Bird Study Group

The Birds Committee occasionally offers workshops and talks on bird-related subjects, including bird identification and biology.  The most recent Bird Study Group meeting took place in early December covering winter bird field identification skills in preparation for the 2014 Christmas Bird Count.  If you would like to be put on the email list for future Bird Study Group meetings, send an email to birdstudy@ofnc.ca.

These 13 migrating birds flew into a glass building in Kanata this morning. No one likes looking at dead birds. Let's support F.L.A.P. and see if we can prevent this.

These thirteen migrating birds flew into a glass building in Kanata. Let’s support F.L.A.P. and see if we can prevent bird-building collisions.

FLAP

The Ottawa chapter of the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) was founded in 2014 by Anouk Hoedeman of the OFNC Birds Committee.  This group aims to document bird-building collisions in Ottawa during spring and fall migration, while concurrently raising awareness of collision prevention and bird-friendly building design. For her work, Anouk was awarded the 2014 OFNC Conservation Award. New volunteers to FLAP are always needed.  Please contact FLAP at Ottawa@flap.org if you are interested in getting involved this spring.

The Ontario Field Ornithologists’ Convention 2014

In October 2014, the Ontario Field Ornithologists held their annual convention in Ottawa.  Many Birds Committee members actively participated in this event, leading field excursions and helping to contribute to the 152 species observed over the weekend.  Recently, Birds Committee member Bob Cermak was awarded the OFNC President’s Prize for his contribution to the convention for organizing the OFNC-led field trips.

feeder

The backyard feeder with a Black-capped Chickadee visitor at Fletcher Wildlife Garden.

Bird Feeders

There are six winter bird feeders in the Ottawa/ Gatineau region that are maintained by the Birds Committee.   Maps of the feeder locations can be found on the OFNC website.  Stop by to enjoy some winter birds!

If you would like to learn more about the OFNC Birds Committee and their past and present activities, you are encouraged to visit OFNC birding and bird sightings webpages. Membership information on the committee can be found in the April-June issue of Trail and Landscape. Lastly, if you bump into any birds committee members at a meeting or on an outing, feel free to ask about the committee and its activities!