Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, Region 24 (Ottawa)

Region 24 (Ottawa) Report for 2004

by Christine Hanrahan

Note: 2003, 2002 and 2001 summary reports still available

Introduction
It is reassuring to note that Region 24 is in great shape as we enter the fifth and final year of the project. Most of the squares are well covered with 39 reporting over 100 species, and a further 24 reporting between 90 and 99 species. Many squares have met or far exceeded the criterion of a minimum 30 species with confirmed breeding. Plans for 2005 will focus on completing the squares still needing some work, increasing our point count data and targeting nocturnal and crepuscular species.

A big Thank You to all the volunteers who worked so hard in 2004 to make our region a success.

Atlassing Results – 2004

Breeding evidence has now been found for one hundred and eighty-three (183) species, with confirmed breeding for one hundred and fifty-seven (157) species (Table 1).

Completion criteria: 90 species per square west of Ottawa, 80 species east of the city, with 30 species confirmed breeding per square. Partial squares to match or come close to figures set by the last atlas (see Table 2).

  • 76 squares completed
  • 10 squares need more work

New Species
Common Goldeneye was recorded on 18UR90, as a possible breeder. This is the first breeding record for our region. Another report of nesting Common Goldeneye in VR71 came in too late to check out this year, but the observation will be followed up in 2005. During the last atlas only one of the 6 eastern regions reported the species (Region 26, Pembroke). This time around, every region is showing records for Common Goldeneye, with a total of 19 squares in 6 regions reporting. This is another cavity nesting duck, typically found during breeding season on small ponds or lakes. Keep your eyes open during nesting season for this species in 2005, particularly if your square encompasses small ponds in wooded areas.

Brewster’s Warbler, a hybrid between Golden-winged Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler, was recorded with fledged young on VR12. Because hybrids can give the song of either parent, the atlas decided that song alone was not an accurate enough indicator to name the species unless the bird was also seen, hence the designation on the data card of “Blue/Golden-winged Warbler.” Not surprisingly, neither Golden-winged or Blue-winged Warblers are common in our region, with only 6 squares reporting Golden-winged Warbler, none reporting Blue-Winged Warbler, and 3 recording “Golden/Blue-winged species.”

Palm Warbler, is a species with specific habitat conditions. As noted in the last atlas (1987) “the critical habitat components seem to be openings with sphagnum moss and shrub cover adjacent to spruce or tamarack.” This type of habitat is scarce in eastern Ontario, but both Mer Bleue and Alfred Bog supply appropriate habitat. Little surprise then, that if the species was going to breed it would do so in either or both of these places. In our region, a family of fledged young was recorded in the Mer Bleue Bog (VR62), while in Region 23 two squares, both encompassing the Alfred Bog, also reported Palm Warbler. During the last atlas, this species was recorded as a ‘probable’ breeder in Mer Bleue. The 2004 record constitutes an important and exciting find!

More News Cape May Warbler: One of the more interesting examples of a range extension is that of the Cape May Warbler. During the first atlas the closest this species came was the Pembroke region. Despite considerable suitable habitat, there were no records for our region, and the species was generally considered to be a more northerly breeder. Things have changed notably since then, and we now have 16 squares reporting Cape May Warbler, two with confirmed breeding evidence. Records come from both east and west of the region, with 3 separate pairs located in Larose Forest near Bourget.

Bay-breasted Warbler is another species showing a marginal increase in the number of squares this atlas (3 compared to 1). The slight increase is apparent in adjoining regions where this species is also slightly more common than last time.

Sandhill Crane reports increased significantly in 2004. Two confirmed breeding records come from UR57 (Westmeath) and VR62, Mer Bleue where they have bred for for the 2nd year. In addition, 7 other squares reported this species as either possible or probable breeders.

Other species showing increases: Not surprisingly, the trends made apparent in the first year of this atlas (2001) have carried on. Wild Turkeys, Turkey Vultures, Merlins, Northern Cardinals and House Finches continue to be reported on a significant proportion of squares compared to last atlas. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is another species which, interestingly, has spread into the more agricultural areas of the region, occupying some of the scattered small woodlots. A comparison of the species maps for the last atlas and the present one show a very large white hole in the middle of the region where no sapsuckers were recorded between 1981-1986. Data thus far shows them present on 82 out of 86 squares.

Declining species: In the fall of 2004, Denis Lepage of Bird Studies Canada, compared species found on the first atlas with the species found, to that date, on the second. He drew up a quick chart of the top 20 declines (and the top 20 increases). While no interpretation was offered for this preliminary data, his results are interesting and support declines that we have noted in our region, including: Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Bank Swallow, Blue-winged Teal, Red-headed Woodpecker and Purple Martin.

More News and Views from 2004

Helping Out
During 2004 we needed help with point counts, owling, confirmations, responsibility for covering relinquished squares, assisting other atlassers, and helping out with the 5 Perth squares. Offers of help were forthcoming from many wonderful volunteers who said, in essence, “tell me where you want me to go and I’ll go”! These outstanding efforts mean we have achieved many of our goals, leaving us the luxury of focusing efforts on specific areas in 2005. Kudos to those who went that extra mile and to all who participated in 2004.

Owling
‘Owl Square Bashes’ were held each weekend in April. Unfortunately, despite often good weather conditions, owls were in short supply.

Forward to 2005

Group Effort
With our very last chance to look for atlas data, we are suggesting a different approach for this final year. While we encourage atlassers to continue working in their squares, particularly if the confirmation rate is less than the minimum 30 species, or the total is less than our criteria (see above), we’d also like atlassers to treat Region 24 as if it was one big square. More eyes and ears equal more data and that can only add to the common good of our region and the atlas as a whole. We also urge other birders to help out in the last year. There is still much that can be done. In particular, we want to focus on specific groups of birds, as below, and on point counts.

Point Counts are crucial for providing data on abundance levels for species which in turn helps us understand bird populations. Point counts are a simple and fun way to gather this abundance data. If you haven’t yet done any in your square, please consider doing so. We are also looking for volunteers willing to go into squares and complete point counts where the atlasser has indicated a need for assistance. Region 24 is required to complete point counts on at least 50%, or 43 of our 86 squares, with a minimum of 25 point counts in a square. However, those squares having less than 5% land mass are considered complete with fewer point counts. To date, 36 squares have completed the required number of point counts. A further 25 have completed some point counts, and of those,14 need fewer than10 additional point counts to be considered complete. As can be seen, we are almost there. If you would like to focus attention on this aspect of atlassing in 2005, we’d be delighted. Table 2 displays the number of point counts completed per square.

Nocturnal and Crepuscular Birds
As we did last year, efforts will again concentrate on owls and crepuscular species such as Whip-poor-wills, Common Nighthawks, and American Woodcocks. Owls, as many of you now know, have been relatively scarce, especially when compared with the first atlas. We really need to determine whether this is a true reflection of the status of owls, particularly in our region, a reflection of lack of effort, or just sheer bad luck on our part the nights we go owling!

Helping Out in Other Regions
In 2004 we assumed responsibility for 5 squares from Region 25, Perth (18UQ68, 18UQ69, 18UQ87, 18UQ88, and 18UQ99). All have received good coverage thanks to those stalwart volunteers who offered to take on responsibility for the squares.

However, some of the adjacent regions still need help. This is an excellent opportunity for you to explore new and exciting territory where the habitat in many cases, is quite different from what one is used to around Ottawa. One of the volunteers who atlassed in Region 25 said “At last! Birds!!” Mind you, he’d been atlassing primarily in the ‘cornbelt’. Nonetheless, his point is well taken. The richness of regions west of us can be astonishing and correspondingly satisfying to atlas. If you are interested, please contact me in early spring.

Final Atlas Meeting with Mike and Nicole
The final meeting of the atlas project with Mike Cadman and Nicole Kopysh, will take place at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden on Saturday, April 2nd, 2005. Watch the local online atlas pages for more details closer to the time.

If You Want to get Involved

We still need you! Help out by joining us in looking for owls, participating in point counts, focussing on finding confirmed breeding evidence, or going out on a one-time only birding trip (we’ll let you know the areas we need covered and the best time to go and supply you with as much information as you want or need).

More Information can be obtained by contacting me at vanessa@magma.ca, and by checking the local atlas web pages on the OFNC site www.ofnc.ca/birding/bbatlas.html and the main atlas web site: www.birdsontario.org. The toll-free atlas number is 1-866-900-7100.

Atlas Volunteers 2003

As always we are supremely grateful to the volunteers who devoted so much time and energy to the atlas again in 2004: Ken Allison, Tim Allison, Ruth Allison, Ted Baldwin, Ron Bedford, Gord Belyea, Cliff Bennett, Lynda Bennett, Marg Benson, Ludmilla Borshevsky, David Britton, Richard Brouillet, Peter Browne, Gerhard Bruins, Emily Burton, Janet Castle, Dale Crook, Ron Curtis,, Erica Dunn, Peter Fuller, Anne-Marie Fyfe, Marcel Gahbauer, Colin Gaskell, Jessica Gawn, Mark Gawn, Stephen Gawn, Carol and Alan German, Jim Gillick, Al Graham, Marc Gravel, Christine Hanrahan, Mark Hovorka, Roy John, Paul Jones, Michael Kahn, Anthony Keith, Rick Killeen, Maryanne Koot, Bernie Ladouceur, Sandy Lang, Marc Latremouille, Rob Lee, Dick Mabee, MacNamara Field Naturalists, Paul and Michelle Martin, Bev McBride, Joy and Ralph McGiffin, Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, Dave Moore, Mick Panesar, Bev Peterkin, Eric Ridgen, Jack Romanow, Cameron Sangster, Paul Schoening, , Arnie Simpson, Dan and Chris Simpson, Langis Sirois, Dave Smythe, Daniel St. Hilaire, Blair Stevens, Austin Taverner, Eve Ticknor, Sloane Watters, Laurie L. Wood, Kim Zbitnew, Eleanor Zurbrigg

Table 1: Region 24 Ottawa: Cumulative Results (2001-2004)

Species in bold are new for 2004. Numbers in the table represent number of squares.

Species Possible Probable Confirmed Total
Common Loon 9 13 11 33
Pied-billed Grebe 14 6 12 32
Horned Grebe 0 1 0 1
Double-crested Cormorant 5 0 1 6
American Bittern 32 16 10 58
Least Bittern 3 4 2 9
Great Blue Heron 28 4 13 45
Green Heron 25 13 15 53
Black-crowned Night-heron 1 1 1 3
Turkey Vulture 41 19 4 63
Canada Goose 13 12 46 68
Wood Duck 10 12 46 68
Gadwall 3 2 0 5
American Wigeon 3 3 1 7
Amer. Black Duck 10 11 16 37
Mallard 7 22 53 81
Blue-winged Teal 11 8 13 32
Northern Shoveler 2 1 5 8
Northern Pintail 2 4 3 9
Amer. Green-winged Teal 4 10 2 16
Redhead 0 1 0 1
Ring-necked Duck 3 3 0 6
Lesser Scaup 3 3 0 6
Common Goldeneye 1 0 0 1
Hooded Merganser 15 12 8 35
Common Merganser 3 11 7 21
Ruddy Duck 0 4 2 6
Osprey 16 5 19 40
Bald Eagle 2 0 1 3
Northern Harrier 29 15 20 64
Sharp-shinned Hawk 27 5 11 43
Cooper’s Hawk 17 0 8 25
Northern Goshawk 10 3 7 20
Red-shouldered Hawk 16 6 9 31
Broad-winged Hawk 22 10 13 45
Red-tailed Hawk 26 25 25 76
American Kestrel 21 12 38 71
Merlin 15 9 10 34
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 1 1
Gray Partridge 6 9 8 23
Ring-necked Pheasant 1 0 0 1
Ruffed Grouse 22 15 36 73
Wild Turkey 19 7 16 42
Yellow rail 0 1 0 1
Virginia Rail 9 18 15 42
Sora 17 14 7 38
Common Moorhen 4 4 1 9
American Coot 4 2 2 8
Sandhill Crane 5 2 2 9
Killdeer 10 13 58 81
Spotted Sandpiper 18 20 30 68
Upland Sandpiper 13 14 18 45
Common Snipe 34 27 11 72
American Woodcock 34 24 8 66
Wilson’s Phalarope 1 1 1 3
Ring-billed Gull 6 2 3 11
Herring Gull 2 1 0 3
Common Tern 1 5 1 7
Black Tern 3 4 5 12
Rock Dove 13 19 47 79
Mourning Dove 3 29 54 86
Black-billed Cuckoo 40 21 9 70
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 0 0 1
Eastern Screech-Owl 19 4 3 26
Gt. Horned Owl 17 12 13 42
N. Hawk-Owl 0 0 1 1
Barred Owl 14 12 4 30
Long-eared Owl 7 2 0 9
Short-eared Owl 3 3 1 7
Northern Saw-whet Owl 16 8 0 24
Common Nighthawk 10 6 1 17
Whip-poor-will 19 9 0 28
Chimney Swift 16 4 5 25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 34 32 17 83
Belted Kingfisher 22 21 38 81
Red-headed Woodpecker 2 2 2 6
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 9 10 63 82
Downy Woodpecker 18 16 50 84
Hairy Woodpecker 20 17 46 83
Black-backed Woodpecker 2 1 0 3
Northern Flicker 11 14 54 84
Pileated Woodpecker 26 26 22 74
Olive-sided Flycatcher 7 5 1 13
E. Wood-Pewee 25 41 18 84
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 3 2 1 6
Alder Flycatcher 26 36 14 76
Willow Flycatcher 23 10 4 37
Least Flycatcher 24 41 14 79
Eastern Phoebe 10 6 69 85
Great Crested Flycatcher 12 34 39 85
Eastern Kingbird 2 17 65 84
Loggerhead Shrike 1 0 0 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 2 2 1 5
Blue-headed Vireo 16 16 0 32
Warbling Vireo 20 41 18 79
Philadelphia Vireo 2 1 0 3
Red-eyed Vireo 8 40 38 86
Gray Jay 0 1 0 1
Blue Jay 6 19 61 86
American Crow 8 10 67 85
Common Raven 20 17 28 65
Horned lark 19 16 8 43
Purple Martin 12 4 25 41
Tree Swallow 7 5 72 84
N. Rough-winged Swallow 12 4 18 34
Bank Swallow 13 5 29 47
Cliff Swallow 10 3 31 44
Barn Swallow 6 4 73 83
Black-capped Chickadee 2 7 76 85
Red-breasted Nuthatch 17 26 31 74
White-breasted Nuthatch 16 18 46 80
Brown Creeper 20 18 6 44
Carolina Wren 1 2 0 3
House Wren 17 23 31 71
Winter Wren 22 26 3 51
Sedge Wren 4 10 0 14
Marsh Wren 11 14 8 33
Golden-crowned Kinglet 18 5 3 26
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 13 3 0 16
Eastern Bluebird 6 9 49 64
Veery 11 46 26 83
Swainson’s Thrush 7 2 3 12
Hermit Thrush 21 30 11 62
Wood Thrush 26 36 15 77
American Robin 2 1 83 86
Gray Catbird 11 27 44 82
Northern Mockingbird 8 5 1 14
Brown Thrasher 15 25 33 73
European Starling 4 0 80 84
Cedar Waxwing 17 29 40 86
Brewster’s Warbler 0 0 1 1
Golden-winged Warbler 4 1 1 6
Golden/Blue-winged Warbler (heard) 2 1 0 3
Tennessee Warbler 0 1 0 1
Nashville Warbler 17 31 28 76
Northern Parula 0 1 0 1
Yellow Warbler 2 23 59 84
Chestnut-sided Warbler 19 28 32 84
Magnolia Warbler 33 18 11 62
Cape May Warbler 11 2 3 16
Black-throated Blue Warbler 26 15 3 44
Yellow-rumped Warbler 33 19 16 68
Black-throated Green Warbler 21 29 16 66
Blackburnian Warbler 18 9 6 33
Palm Warbler 0 0 1 1
Pine Warbler 20 24 8 53
Bay-breasted Warbler 2 0 1 3
Black-and-white Warbler 16 36 31 83
American Redstart 33 26 18 77
Ovenbird 16 36 33 85
Northern Waterthrush 19 28 14 61
Mourning Warbler 24 24 12 60
Common Yellowthroat 4 17 64 85
Canada Warbler 14 8 5 27
Scarlet Tanager 28 30 7 65
Eastern Towhee 12 3 1 16
Chipping Sparrow 3 9 72 84
Clay-coloured Sparrow 6 9 5 20
Field Sparrow 18 11 21 50
Vesper Sparrow 24 11 12 47
Savannah Sparrow 9 22 48 79
Grasshopper Sparrow 6 9 5 20
Le Conte’s Sparrow 1 0 0 1
Song Sparrow 1 5 78 84
Lincoln’s Sparrow 1 1 2 5
Swamp Sparrow 18 26 46 80
White-throated Sparrow 10 24 48 82
Dark-eyed Junco 20 1 0 21
Northern Cardinal 13 20 31 64
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8 16 59 83
Indigo Bunting 22 39 14 75
Bobolink 4 34 v44 82
Red-winged Blackbird 2 5 78 85
Eastern Meadowlark 15 33 33 81
Common Grackle 0 4 81 85
Brown-headed Cowbird 23 21 40 84
Baltimore Oriole 11 19 53 83
Purple Finch 23 30 16 69
House Finch 17 18 23 58
Red Crossbill 1 1 1 3
W-w Crossbill 6 9 0 15
Pine Siskin 14 11 0 25
American Goldfinch 6 54 24 84
Evening Grosbeak 21 12 14 47
House Sparrow 3 8 65 76

Table 2: Species totals and confirmations per square

Squares and point counts in boldface are considered complete.

Square name & number Species total Confirmed Last Atlas Point counts
VR00 Almonte 94 32 108/49 26
VR01 Blakeney 93 47 100/41 30
VR02 Kinburn 111 33 107/54 28
VR03 Fitzroy Harbour 109 52 120/79 27
VR04 Quyon (5%) 78 21 50/4 7
VR10 Appleton 116 68 97/38 36
VR11 Corkery 114 46 106/29 29
VR12 Marathon/Carp 109 46 106/51 23
VR13 Constance Bay 90 32 116/54 1
VR14 Eardley (5%)  NA 9 1 61/11 0
VR20 Munster 113 78 103/63 24
VR21 Kanata 102 48 119/64 25
VR22 S. March 116 63 136/82 23
VR23 Dunrobin 107 41 104/55 30
VR30 Richmond 114 72 106/56 76
VR31 Bells Corners 98 43 118/70 31
VR32 Britannia 92 43 96/54 0
VR40 Manotick 90 68 100/42 17
VR41 Uplands Airport 108 65 90/54 25
VR42 Ottawa Centre 101 58 89/54 6
VR43 Rockcliffe (50%) 65 38 58/35 19
VR50 West Osgoode 98 75 100/68 58
VR51 Greely 101 64 88/39 17
VR52 Ramsayville 125 89 116/92 21
VR53 Greens Creek 98 48 101/65 26
VR60 Vernon 84 37 81/41 26
VR61 Edwards 86 35 77/33 24
VR62 Carlsbad Springs 90 51 104/61 10
VR63 Martin’s Corners 93 50 94/54 25
VR64 Cumberland (5%) 59 24 57/20 0
VR70 Morewood 81 41 71/41 25
VR71 Russell 85 51 97/34 25
VR72 Vars 110 52 92/30 16
VR73 Sarsfield 97 44 90/30 21
VR74 Rockland (50%) 91 23 87/34 25
VR80 Crysler 87 36 87/39 0
VR81 Gagnon 95 40 79/31 8
VR82 Cheney 101 45 101/50 17
VR83 Bourget 108 38 86/28 26
VR84 Clarence 106 43 94/31 25
VR90 Berwick 88 30 78/26 0
VR91 Mayerville 90 34 85/63 0
VR92 Lemieux 85 36 83/25 0
VR93 Pendleton 92 32 95/42 29
VR94 Jessups Falls 87 38 90/34 0
UR50 McCreary NA Mtn./Norcan Lake 86 15 95/30 24
UR51 Ferguson’s Lake 94 17 109/45 81
UR52 Shamrock 97 21 101/35 29
UR53 Balsam Hill 94 32 110/56 0
UR54 Bromley 99 38 106/52 1
UR55 Cobden 110 48 105/40 26
UR56 Beachburg 102 57 95/49 0
UR57 Westmeath 102 50 95/49 0
UR58 Flannagan Bay (50%) 87 31 76/26 25
UR60 Flower Station 104 54 91/22 20
UR61 Calabogie 101 38 118/42 25
UR62 Ashdad 105 33 107/39 32
UR63 Renfrew 106 42 109/47 20
UR64 Haley Station 86 14 101/40 17
UR65 Queensline 101 34 95/15 28
UR66 Norman Rapids 95 36 85/43 25
UR67 La Passe (50%) 85 35 73/43 23
UR68 Davidson (5%) 37 5 N/A 3
UR70 Darling Long Lake 93 25 93/22 0
UR71 Bagot Long Lake 101 38 102/26 25
UR72 Burnstown 92 40 105/51 9
UR73 Goshen 99 40 102/43 39
UR74 Castleford 93 34 102/51 10
UR80 Tatlock 124 57 95/25 41
UR81 Lowney Lake 101 21 110/36 16
UR82 White Lake 108 59 112/49 25
UR83 Sand Point 109 52 105/47 0
UR84 Rhoddy’s Bay 5% 64 17 51/17 6
UR90 Clayton 106 46 95/31 36
UR91 Cedar Hill 101 35 119/52 16
UR92 Pakenham 103 42 103/44 0
UR93 Arnprior 113 28 113/60 0
VQ19 Black’s Corners 100 53 92/25 0
VQ29 Dwyer Hill 105 60 116/60 27
VQ39 Malakoff 124 50 115/45 0
VQ49 North Gower 100 62 101/61 0
VQ59 Osgoode 83 62 80/29 56
VQ69 Winchester Bog 80 43 79/35 0
VQ79 Winchester 87 46 86/39 0
VQ89 Chesterville 95 46 81/33 0
VQ99 Finch 98 44 N/A 0