Big Week of Birding - June 1 to 10, 2012
The PEI National Park “Big Week of Birding” is designed to be an event that is for fun first. Its primary purpose is to help Parks Canada staff detect species at risk in the park, so that their presence can be recorded in national, multi-agency databases, and for participants to have fun doing it. Parks Canada is looking forward to having local enthusiasts of all skill levels come out to the park to enjoy bird watching and help staff understand more about the birds that call the north shore of PEI home.
There are three ways to participate in the Big Week of Birding.
1. Team Competition
As a team, find the most species of birds in PEI National Park between June 1 and June 10, 2012. Your team’s name will be added to the for-fun trophy that is being developed specially for this event! Your team’s photo will be posted on the Parks Canada website and the PEI National Park Facebook page, and you’ll be invited back to defend your title in 2013!
2. Individual Competition
As an individual, find the most species of birds in PEI National Park between June 1 and June 10, 2012. Your name will be added to the for-fun trophy that is being developed specially for this event! Your photo will be posted on the Parks Canada website and the PEI National Park Facebook page, and you’ll be invited back to defend your title in 2013!
3. Just for Fun
Not competitive? Head out on one of the park’s beaches or trails, join a guided birding walk, or tag along with a member of the Parks Canada team anytime throughout the week. Your observations and data are still important!
Everyone who participates on a team, as an individual or just for fun will be entered to win some great prizes! The prize draw will take place at the Species Tally and Wrap-up Barbeque that will take place at Ardgowan National Historic Site on Monday, June 11.
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All events during the Big Week of Birding are free of charge. Park passes are not required.
For registration details please see "Registration and Orientation" event immediately below.
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Registration & Orientation
May 31, 2012
Date: Thursday May 31, 2012 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown
Whether you are a first time birder or an expert, we welcome you to participate in this week full of great activities. If you would like to be part of the Big Week of Birding, please come to this evening registration and orientation event.
Participants will be given a registration package that will include park maps and birding ethics. A Parks Canada ecologist will provide a talk about common habitats within the park and about identifying common and “most wanted” bird species.
Beginner birders will have the chance to learn some tips and tricks of the trade from park staff and fellow birders. Birding ethics and species and information recording practices will be reviewed. There will also be time to socialize with fellow bird enthusiasts. Light refreshments will be provided.
Can’t make the registration night but still want to participate? Please download a registration form. While we would prefer to receive registrations before the start of the event on June 1, completed registration forms can be submitted until 11:59 pm on Sunday, June 10.
Registration form
Learn to Bird Hike
June 2, 2012
Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012 - 8:00 am (approximately 2-3 hours)
Location: Dalvay Trail House (on Dalvay Crescent across from Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site)
On Saturday, June 2, Parks Canada staff will lead a “learn to bird” hike in the park. Bring binoculars, scopes or bird guidebooks if you have them. Staff will have a few spares to borrow if you don’t have your own. Please also bring water, snacks, sunscreen and bug repellent. Don’t forget to dress for the weather.
Meet staff at 8:00 am at the Dalvay Trail House where you will start birding. The weather and the mood of the birds will determine where we go from there. You should be capable of walking on varied terrain, but the pace is likely to be relatively slow to give us time to look for birds!
You’ll learn some tricks about how to identify birds and get to be more familiar with some of the more common species you’re likely to see in Prince Edward Island.
Owl Prowl
June 6, 2012
Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - 7:30pm
Location: Meet at the Dalvay Trail House (on Dalvay Crescent across from Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site)
Join Parks Canada staff for an Owl Prowl at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, June 6. We’ll walk some of the trails in the Dalvay area in search of the Park’s resident owl species, such as the Northern Saw-whet Owl and the Barred Owl. A playback recording will be used to increase the likelihood of the owls calling or swooping in. We may also hear other birds calling such as the American Snipe and the American Woodcock.
Everyone is welcome join this event but participants are not allowed to duplicate this method at another time or location. Birds counted during this event are not eligible for listing on competitive lists for this event. Please bring bug repellent, a small flashlight and dress for the weather.
Checklist Submission Deadline
June 11, 2012
Date: Monday, June 11, 2012 - 12:00 pm (noon)
Location: Charlottetown
Everyone who has participated – whether competitively or just for fun – is asked to submit their observations from the week.
Please send in your completed checklist, as well as any observation details about the “most wanted” birds, by 12 noon on Monday, June 11 to:
Paul Giroux
Monitoring Ecologist
PEI National Park
Parks Canada
Email:
paul.giroux@pc.gc.ca
Fax: 902-672-6350
Drop-off: Ardgowan National Historic Site (2 Palmers Lane, Charlottetown) or Dalvay Administration Building (40 Dalvay Crescent, York)
All data submitted will help Parks Canada staff have a better understanding of the birds that reside in or use the park. Data submitted by 12 noon on Monday, June 11 will also be used to tally the Big Week of Birding team and individual winners. Anyone who has submitted data as part of a team, or as an individual, will be entered into the prize draw. The draw will be made on Monday, June 11 at the Species Tally and BBQ.
Species Tally & Wrap-up Barbeque
June 11, 2012
Date: Monday, June 11 - 6:30pm
Location: Ardgowan National Historic Site, 2 Palmers Lane, Charlottetown
Join us to discover the results from a week of birding in PEI National Park, to hear about some of the more interesting finds, and to find out the team and individual winners of the Big Week of Birding! After the barbeque, draw prizes will be awarded.
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The Parks Canada Team is looking for help on their quest to find the “most wanted” species at risk in the park and to see how many other common or rare species they can find. Novice and expert birders – and even those participating in the competition – are welcome to join the Parks Canada Team as they search the national park for birds during the week.
Bring your binoculars, scope and bird guides if you have them. Staff will have a few spares to borrow if you don’t have your own. Dress for the weather. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen and bug repellent.
The Parks Canada Team’s schedule will be posted. Watch our Facebook page for updates on some of our more interesting finds!
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Parks Canada is hoping that the “Big Week of Birding” will result in more knowledge about whether its ten “most wanted” species at risk reside in or use PEI National Park. The ten “most wanted” species for this event are:
- Canada Warbler (Threatened)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher (Threatened)
- Barn Swallow (Threatened)
- Common Nighthawk (Threatened)
- Rusty Blackbird (Special Concern)
- Yellow-breasted Chat (Endangered)
- Short-eared Owl (Special Concern)
- Bobolink (Threatened)
- Red Knot (Endangered)
- Piping Plover (Endangered)
Please refer to the new “most wanted” poster, which will provide key information about how to identify these birds and where they might be found:
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Click here for the Big Week of Birding Rules and Ethics
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Click here to learn how to record the species identified during the week.
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If you have questions, or would like more information, please contact:
Registration, logistics & event details: Tara McNally MacPhee
A/Interpretation Coordinator
Parks Canada
PEI National Park
Phone: 902-672-6381
Email:
tara.mcnally@pc.gc.ca Bird identification & data collection: Paul Giroux
Monitoring Ecologist
Parks Canada
PEI National Park
Phone: 902-672-6383
Email:
paul.giroux@pc.gc.ca