Annual Report/Rapport Annuel 2011 - 2012Bird Studies Canada

Art Martell, Chair / Président

BSC Board of Directors / Conseil d’administration d’ÉOC

On behalf of Bird Studies Canada’s Board of Directors

and staff, I am pleased to present a brief summary of the organization’s status and accomplishments for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. We had another good year financially, with $4.7 million in revenue and a positive balance, resulting in an accrued position at year-end of $304,000 in our operating account. As explained in recent Annual Reports, the carry forward has been developed to lessen our dependence on our bank line of credit, and provides some cushion in the event of unexpected expenses or revenue shortfalls. Our Endowment Fund increased moderately, and stands at about $4 million.

I am happy to report that our numbers of members and donors continue to grow steadily year by year. The distribution of BSC’s electronic newsletter Latest News has increased dramatically over the past few years, and now exceeds 55,000 subscribers. In the past year alone, more than 14,000 new readers signed up. This increased interest in BSC nationally and internationally is obviously very gratifying.

The Annual Report presents some highlights of the many projects across the country in which we are involved. I will mention just a few. On the west coast, we have begun a research and monitoring project focusing on shorebirds that migrate in stunning numbers in the Lower Mainland area. This is a project sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, which is tracking Western Sandpipers and Dunlin throughout their range. This project is noteworthy because it is our first major study on this particular group of shorebirds.

Another major collaborative project was the development of the first-ever State of Canada’s Birds report. The report, released in June 2012, is the product of a tremendous amount of work by researchers at Bird Studies Canada and other agencies. It also represents the efforts of countless volunteers, many of them BSC members, who collected the majority of the data through various Citizen Science programs over a 40-year period. As you know, BSC coordinates numerous Citizen Science initiatives.

A copy of the State of Canada’s Birds report was mailed to all of our members, in recognition of your efforts and to thank you for your continued support.

Au nom du Conseil d’administration et du personnel d’Études d’Oiseaux Canada (ÉOC), je suis heureux de vous résumer brièvement notre situation et nos

réalisations au cours de l’exercice financier de 2011-2012. Nous avons de nouveau obtenu de bons résultats se traduisant par des recettes d’environ 4,4 M$ et un solde positif, si bien que le report prospectif de fin d’exercice de notre compte temporaire s’est chiffré à 304 000 $. Comme nous l’avons précisé dans les derniers rapports annuels, le report est utilisé pour nous permettre de compter dans une moindre mesure sur notre marge de crédit et de disposer d’un certain coussin financier en cas de coûts imprévus ou de manque à gagner. Notre fonds de dotation, qui a augmenté modérément, atteint actuellement environ 4 M$.

Le nombre de membres et de bénévoles continue de grossir. Le nombre d’abonnés à Latest News, notre bulletin électronique, qui se chiffre maintenant à plus de 55 000, a fortement progressé au cours des dernières années. Durant le dernier exercice, nous avons attiré plus de 14 000 nouveaux abonnés. Cet intérêt manifesté tant à l’échelle nationale qu’internationale à l’égard d’ÉOC est gratifiant.

Le rapport annuel fait un tour d’horizon des nombreux projets auxquels nous participons. Je n’en mentionnerai ici que quelques uns. Sur la côte ouest, nous avons amorcé un projet de recherche et de surveillance portant sur les oiseaux de rivage, dont un nombre prodigieux migre dans la région des basses-terres continentales. Ce projet est parrainé par le U.S. Forest Service, qui surveille les Bécasseaux d’Alaska et les Bécasseaux variables dans l’ensemble de leur aire de répartition. Il s’agit de notre première importante étude relative à ce groupe.

Nous avons également collaboré à un autre projet d’envergure, soit l’élaboration du tout premier rapport L’état des populations d’oiseaux du Canada. Ce document, qui a été lancé en juin 2012, est le fruit d’un travail énorme de la part des chercheurs d’ÉOC et d’autres organismes. De plus, le rapport n’aurait pu être réalisé sans la foule de bénévoles, dont bon nombre étaient des membres d’ÉOC, qui ont recueilli la plupart des données dans le cadre de divers programmes de citoyens-chercheurs au cours d’une période de 40 ans. Comme vous le savez, ÉOC coordonne de nombreuses initiatives de ce type.

Un exemplaire du rapport L’état des populations d’oiseaux du Canada a été posté à tous nos membres pour les remercier de leur labeur et de leur appui continu.

Chair’s Report Rapport du Président

Highlights from 2011-12Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is a national charitable organization, dedicated to advancing the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and their habitats through research, monitoring, “Citizen Science,” and education.

BSC maintains one of Canada’s largest databases on bird populations, and is a primary source of information for researchers and decision-makers. Using data collected through surveys and research studies that typically involve strong collaborative partnerships, our investigative science is essential to the identification of conservation issues and priorities.

Read on for 2011-12 highlights from selected national and regional programs.

We thank our many members, volunteers, and partners for making 2011-12 another successful and rewarding year. All of our projects and programs depend on the generous support of our donors and sponsors, who are acknowledged in this Annual Report.

National ProgramsBy coordinating data repository, secretariat, and communications functions, data analysis, and production of bird population trend estimates, Bird Studies Canada plays a key role in the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cmmn). In 2011, BSC and Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory co-hosted the biennial CMMN meeting.

From 1981-2011, volunteers monitored more than 4500 lakes for at least one year for the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/clls); on average, over 500 lakes were surveyed annually. BSC staff are preparing a 30-year report for release in 2012.

In 2011-12, Project FeederWatch (www.birdscanada.org/ volunteer/pfw) saw its 25th season nationwide (35th in Ontario), and launched FeederWatch Canada Facebook and Twitter accounts to connect enthusiasts of this perennially popular program.

It was a year of continued growth for three of BSC’s key national programs. Canadians submitted 9800 checklists through the Great Backyard Bird Count (www.birdcount.ca) in 2012 – up nearly 30% from 2011.

After five years of steady growth for eBird Canada (www.ebird.ca), activity exploded in 2011-12, with nearly 200,000 checklists entered for Canada (up by 110% over the previous year).

More than 12,000 participants in the Christmas Bird Count (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc) conducted 412 counts, an all-time high.

Under contract with Environment Canada, Bird Studies Canada organized and hosted a very successful scientific workshop in March, 2012. More than 30 biologists from across the country considered potential causes of aerial insectivore population declines, and developed recommendations on future research priorities.

Hand-feeding a Gray Jay Photo: Gordon Belyea

eBird documents Dickcissel incursions. Photo: Ron Ridout

Common Loon Photo: Peter Ferguson

Atlantic Canada ProgramsData analysis, writing, and publication development were priorities for the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas (www.mba-aom.ca). The hard copy book will be published in 2012-13.

The Nova Scotia Important Bird Area program (www.ibacanada.ca) has been recruiting caretakers and engaging volunteers in monitoring and conservation. This project is part of the growing Canadian network of IBA caretaker projects coordinated by provincial naturalist groups and BirdLife International co-partners, Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada.

In 2011-12, BSC and our project partners developed goals and objectives for the new Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program. A pilot year for the program is being implemented in 2012-13.

Maritimes SwiftWatch (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/acswifts) was launched as a pilot in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. A coordinator was hired, and monitoring, outreach, and stewardship activities were initiated.

Ten-year results from the High Elevation Landbird Program (www.birdscanada.org/library/acbithreport.pdf) were used to produce the first-ever detailed Bicknell’s Thrush population estimates for forests in the Maritimes.

Québec ProgramsIn the project’s first two field seasons, 1780 people signed up to participate in the Québec Breeding Bird Atlas (www.atlas-oiseaux.qc.ca). Atlassers have spent nearly 35,500 hours collecting data, submitted 180,700 individual records of breeding occurrence for 279 species, and completed 11,340 point counts.

In the third field season for the Québec Beached Bird Survey (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/qcbeachbird), volunteers and staff conducted 181 surveys at 51 sites along the Côte-Nord, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, and around the Gaspésie Peninsula. Although 60 beached birds were reported, no oiled birds or obvious bycatch victims were found.

For the Québec Nocturnal Owl Survey (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/qchiboux), 106 routes were surveyed in 2011-12. More than 200 participants and assistants covered 2000 km of secondary roads in forested areas, listened for owls at 1021 stations, and recorded 303 owls. As in the past, the Barred Owl was the most frequently recorded species.

Barred Owl with young Photo: Richard Stern Surveying for Bicknell’s Thrush Photo: Becky Whittam

Herring Gull colony Photo: Peter Ferguson Red-throated Loon - Beached Bird Survey Photo: Andrew Coughlan

Bank Swallow feeding young. Photo: Ron Ridout American Woodcock Photo: Sandra & Frank Horvath

Monarch Photo: Neil PearsonYoung Ornithologists’ Workshop participants. Photo: Liza Barney

Ontario ProgramsIn BSC’s second year of coordinating Ontario volunteers for the American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/onamwo), participation increased by 230%. Audio recorders were deployed across the province to investigate seasonal patterns in calling rates.

In 2011, 351 participants completed bird, amphibian, and habitat surveys for the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/glmmp).

In the second season of surveys for the Ontario Bank Swallow Project (www.birdscanada.org/research/speciesatrisk/bans), an estimated 110,000 breeding birds were counted in the study area along the north shore of Lake Erie. Numbers were down 34% from the previous year, but the normal annual fluctuation is not yet known.

Volunteers for the Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/onowls) completed 164 survey routes across central and northern Ontario, recording 878 owls of eight species.

Five new communities joined Ontario SwiftWatch (www.birdscanada.org/research/speciesatrisk/chsw). Habitat data were collected for 273 chimneys.

BSC began working with numerous partners on the development of a recovery strategy for Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks, which included the launch of an applied research project on grassland birds in southern Ontario.

In Spring and Fall 2011, BSC’s Bird Science and Environmental Education Program (www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/education) delivered 49 programs to 1683 students in 74 classes.

Long Point Bird Observatory At Long Point Bird Observatory (www.birdscanada.org/longpoint), 28,345 birds of 157 species were banded in 2011 by staff and dozens of volunteers from more than a dozen countries. Updated population trend results were produced from 1961-2010.

LPBO collaborated with several universities to carry out ten research projects on birds, bats, and Monarch butterflies.The Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop and Internship Program continued to provide in-depth, hands-on

educational opportunities to teenagers from across the country.

Ruddy Duck Photo: Nick Saunders Black-headed Grosbeak Photo: Glenn Bartley

Beached Bird Survey Photo: Eric DemersCoastal Waterbird Survey Photo: Karen Barry

Prairie Programs In the second field season for the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas (www.birdatlas.mb.ca), the number of registered participants reached 795. Atlassers contributed 12,484 hours in 1750 atlas squares, and breeding was documented for 282 species. Snowy Egret, Western Tanager, and Black-headed Grosbeak were confirmed breeding in Manitoba for the first time, and many other notable records were submitted.

A fourth year of field surveys for the Prairie Marsh Monitoring Program (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/ppmmp) was completed in 2011. Crews accessed 27 study sites, sampled 617 survey stations, and conducted 2191 bird surveys. In total, 1293 survey stations within 61 study sites have been sampled since the 2008 pilot study.

Golden-winged Warbler survey work, funded by the Walter Siemens Memorial Fund, began in 2008. In 2011, additional funding was secured for expanded research and monitoring in Manitoba and Ontario to address knowledge gaps and needs identified in the draft Canadian recovery strategy.

British Columbia Programs Major funding for the BC Breeding Bird Atlas (www.birdatlas.bc.ca) and partner support enabled extensive coverage of remote areas via horseback, floatplane, and helicopter.

The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/bccws) covered more than 200 sites. Publication of our 12-year trends analysis for 56 species generated a great deal of media and public interest.

The BC Beached Bird Survey (www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/bcbeachbird) added over 20 new routes. Along the Central and North Coast, a relationship with the Coastal Guardian Watchmen Network began. Surveyors’ data were published, highlighting plastics pollution in the Pacific Ocean.

Partnering with ten organizations from Alaska to Peru, we began the exciting Migratory Shorebird Project (www.migratoryshorebirdproject.org). Citizen scientists will collect data throughout the winter range of the Dunlin and Western Sandpiper.

The Important Bird Areas Program (www.ibacanada.ca) partnership continued to flourish. The Real Estate Foundation of BC supported a project incorporating IBAs into local government planning.

Publications

Avery-Gomm, S., P.D. O’Hara, L. Kleine, V. Bowes, L.K. Wilson, and K.L. Barry. In press. Biomonitors of marine plastic pollution: evidence of increasing plastic ingestion by Northern Fulmar in the eastern North Pacific. Marine Pollution Bulletin.

Badzinski, S.S., L. Kennedy, S.A. Petrie, and M.L. Schummer. 2011. Variation in body composition and digestive organs of Tundra Swans during migration at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario. Waterbirds 34:468-475.

Barry, K. 2012. The 2011 Christmas Bird Count for kids: a new generation of young birders takes flight. The Wandering Tattler 35(5):12.

Bartok, N.D. 2011. Relative abundance and habitat associations of Least Bitterns (Ixobrychus exilis) at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario. M.Sc. Thesis. University of Western Ontario, London, ON.

Callicutt, J.T., H.M. Hagy, and M.L. Schummer. 2011. The food preference paradigm: A review of autumn-winter food use by North American dabbling ducks (1900–2009). Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 2:29-40.

Callicutt, J.T., R.M. Kaminski, R. Shmulsky, M.L. Schummer, and J.P. Lestrade. In press. Acoustical comparison between decrescendo calls of female Mallards and mimicry by humans using artificial duck calls. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Calvert, A.M, S.A. Mackenzie, J.M. Flemming, P.D. Taylor, and S.J. Walde. 2011. Variation in songbird migratory behaviour offers clues about adaptability to environmental change. Oecologia 168:849-861.

Casutt, S.W. 2012. A study of wood-warbler arrival dates at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory and Long Point Bird Observatory, Ontario. Honours B.Sc. Thesis, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON. 33 pp.

Couturier, A.R. 2011. Geospatial modeling of abundance with breeding bird atlas data, pp. 65-72 in J.V. Wells (ed.). Boreal birds of North America: A hemispheric view of their conservation links and significance. Studies in Avian Biology (no. 41). University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.

Crewe, T., K. Barry, P. Davidson, and D. Lepage. 2012. Coastal waterbird population trends in the Strait of Georgia 1999-2011: Results from the first 12 years of the British Columbia Coastal Waterbird Survey. British Columbia Birds 22:8-25.

Fleming, K.S., R.M. Kaminski, T.E. Tietjen, M.L. Schummer, G.N. Ervin, and K.D. Nelms. In press. Vegetative forage quality and moist-soil management on wetlands reserve program lands in Mississippi. Wetlands.

Gerson, A.R. and C.G. Guglielmo. 2011. Flight at low ambient humidity increases protein catabolism in migratory birds. Science 133:1434-1436.

Gratto-Trevor, C. and S. Abbott. 2011. Piping Plover conservation in North America: Science, successes, and challenges. Canadian Journal of Zoology 89: 401-418.

Hooton, L.A. 2010. Identifying critical stopover sites for migratory bats. M.Sc. Thesis. University of Western Ontario, London, ON.

Hunter, D. 2011. Plight of the bug eaters. Ontario Nature (Winter):27-31.

Jones, I.L., A.L. Bond, S.S. Seneviratne, and S.B. Muzaffa. 2012. Least Auklet (Aethia pusilla). The Birds of North America Online (A. Pool, ed). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna.

McGuire, L.M., C.G. Guglielmo, S.A. Mackenzie, and P.D. Taylor. 2011. Migratory stopover in the long-distance migrant silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans. Journal of Animal Ecology 81:377-385.

Melles, S.J., M.-J. Fortin, K.Lindsay, and D. Badzinski. 2011. Expanding northward: Influence of climate change, forest connectivity, and population processes on a threatened species’ range shift. Global Change Biology 17:17-31.

Schummer, M.L., S.A. Petrie, S.S. Badzinski, Y-W. Chen, and N. Belzile. 2011. Hepatic concentrations of inorganic contaminants and their relationships with nutrient reserves in autumn-migrant Common Loons at Lake Erie. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 62:704-713.

Schummer, M.L., R.B. Allen, and G. Wang. 2011. Sizes and long-term trends of duck broods in Maine, 1955-2007. Northeastern Naturalist 18:73-86.

Schummer, M.L., J. Palframan, E. McNaughton, T. Barney, and S.A. Petrie. In press. Comparisons of bird, aquatic macroinvertebrate, and plant communities among restored and natural wetland habitats at Long Point Crown Marsh and Long Point Provincial Park Marsh, Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. Wetlands.

Schummer, M.L., H.M. Hagy, K.S. Fleming, J. Cheshier, and J.T. Callicutt. 2012. A guide to moist-soil wetland plants of the Mississippi alluvial valley. University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi. 250 pp.

Schummer, M.L. and S.A. Petrie. 2011. The role of waterfowl in Lower Great Lakes aquatic food webs. Lakeline Special Edition on Lake Ecology (Summer):36-40.

Seneviratne, S.S., I.L. Jones, and S.M. Carr. In press. The patterns of vocal divergence in a group of non-oscine birds (Auklets, Alcidae, Charadriiformes). Evolutionary Ecology Research.

Taylor, P.D., S.A. Mackenzie, B.G. Thurber, A.M. Calvert, A.M. Mills, L.P. McGuire, and C.G. Guglielmo. 2011. Landscape movements of migratory birds and bats reveal an expanded scale of stopover. PlosOne 6(11):e27054.

Tozer, D.C., D.M. Burke, E. Nol, and K.A. Elliott. 2012. Managing ecological traps: logging and sapsucker nest predation by bears. Journal of Wildlife Management 76:887-898.

Unitt, L. 2010. Exploring the ecology of migrant birds at Long Point. The Wood Duck (October).

Walpole, A.A., J. Bowman, D.C. Tozer, and D.S. Badzinski. In press. Community level response to climate change: Shifts in anuran calling phenology. Herpetological Conservation and Biology.

Ware, L.L., S.A. Petrie, S.S. Badzinski, R.C. Bailey, Y.-W. Chen, N. Belzile, and M.L. Schummer. In press. Effects of elevated selenium on body condition, oxidative stress, and organ health in Greater Scaup wintering on Lake Ontario. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

In 2011-12, Bird Studies Canada received memorial donations honouring the following individuals: Frances Cline (Southwold, ON); Ruth I. Cornwell (Hamilton, ON); Gene Koss (Chicago, IL); Hugh T. Lemon (Waterloo, ON); Vasile Motoc (Romania); Bell Pond (Simcoe, ON); Jack Robinson; Roger Robson (Mississauga, ON); Dr. David M. Scott (London, ON); Daisy Smith (Niagara Falls,

ON); Nellie O. Snyder (Crousetown, NS); William Wasserfall (Holland Centre, ON).

$1000 or more

Judith AllansonWilliam BarnettHarry and Joan BarrettDr. Maureen BriscoeJohn and Margaret CattoEstate of Curtis H.

Chipman*Dr. Fred CookeAdrian J. CooteDr. Tony and

Dorothy DiamondPhilippe DunnThor E. Eaton, Jr.Thor E. Eaton, Sr.Dr. George and Pat FinneyMarshall C. ForchukTed and Paula GentJack GibbonsDr. Gerald and Anne GillCam GilliesC.J.K. GoodwinClive and Joy GoodwinRalph HockenDr. Theo HofmannHarvey HuntBryce M. HunterHeather JeramazH. Fisk JohnsonRichard JonesDr. Richard W. KnaptonTimothy MacDonaldJim and Lynda MackiewiczDr. Art and Sue MartellChristopher MartinPaul MendelsonDr. Randall Mooi and

Odette MorinE.M. MoranDavid J. MunnLinda PearnDr. Scott Petrie

Louanne ReidSusan E. RimmerDon W. RobartDemi M. RogersGay RogersJohn and Katharine SchulzKevin and Linda ShackletonTed SharpLinda SladeDavid P. SmithRosemary SpeirsJo Swartz and

Richard SilvermanDr. Phil Taylor and

Jennifer MinerPhil WilsonE.G. WorthTod Wright

$500 - $999

Karen AlexanderGary D. BellPeter Carson and

Mary GartshorePatricia L. ChalmersBetty ChanyiKatherine A. CorkeryDr. Donald and

Margaret CowanDr. Rolph A. DavisBryan DrownJim EtheringtonJoan M. FalconerBruce and Ann FallsKatherine C. FarrisDr. George R. FrancisDr. Richard and Dorothy

FrankDr. Robin Fraser and

Mary Ellen HebbWalter* and Irene FreyMorten and Janice Friis

Nazo GabrielianMartin GebauerDr. Brian L. Gibson and

Carole GiangrandeDr. John and Patricia HallRobert and Hendrika

HamiltonVerna J. HigginsSuzanne Ivey CookTapio KoponenJim and Sally LairdRoy D. LaPointeDon and Barbara MacDuffJohn C. MacIsaacBruce and Laurie MackenzieCurtis and Michelle ManlyBill and Carol MartinHelen McAloneyGay McDougall Gruner and

Dr. Peter GrunerGerald B. McKeating

and Patricia Crossley-McKeating

Richard W. McLaughlinPeter McParlandDr. Lorelie Mitchell and

Piet van DijkenCéline MooreAlan and Anne MorganDennis MulvennaDr. Erica Nol and Chris

RisleyRonald PaysonKit PearsonElizabeth C. PeekDonna PelleyBrayton PolkaDavid and Heather PondGeorge Prieksaitis and

Asa SjobergRobert and Sandra RafosLinda ReadEllen Reid

Dr. Ian Routley and Vivian Birch-Jones

Jim and Betty RunningsAnn ScarfeAtul SharmaAudrey I. SillickPatricia E. StoneMark StricklandAnne R. ThompsonOrmond TooleMargaret E. ToomerHazel TregenzaGuy and Sandra WappleRichard and Joan WaterousArthur WatsonRay WoodsAndrew YuBrian Zawadski

$250 - $499

Dr. Kenneth F. AbrahamDr. C. Davison AnkneySarah E. ArlissKaren and Eric AuzinsNancy BallantyneDr. Ian K. BarkerPaul BarnickeLesley S. BarrengerKaren Barry and Eric DemersJack and Agnes BatemanJulie A. BauerRoss BeatsonDr. James Beck and

Dr. Barbara Hardin BeckStewart and Alison BentleyPaul and Pat BigelowTony BiggDr. Peter J. BlancherSusan BlueDr. Grant BowlbyLynne BradstreetMark Brett

Individual Donors

Memorial Donations

Wray and Lazelle BrooksChris BrownJoe BryantBruce BrydonMary BurfootRobert and Donna BurgessBruce and Claudia BurnsJim Burrell and Carol

GregoryDr. Rob ButlerDr. Ludwig Carbyn and

Jaynne CarreMary CarnahanDr. John R. CartwrightAnne CathraeNick and Anne ChapmanGeorge Clulow and

Maureen ShawDr. André Corriveau and

Patricia BaldwinSandra CrabtreeAverill CraigDr. Nicholas CristoveanuCharles C. CronDon and Joan DaleyAnne H. DavidsonMichael and

Honor de PencierTess DempsterDr. Gene and

Charlene DenzelRichard and Michele DoktorShirley DonaldClifford E. DresnerDr. Erica DunnMarc Dupuis-DesormeauxJohn A. DyckDr. Martin H. Edwards*Richard and

Lee Anne Facey-CrowtherReverend Ray FletcherPamela FlowerDr. David K. Foot and

Joyce FeinbergMike and Susan FredericksAnn GallieRosemary GaymerJohn and Dorothy GealeWilliam GerthSteve GillisSharon E. GodkinMike GollopFrançois GrenonErnest and Jeanne GribblePaula Grieef

Chester and Camilla GryskiRoss HamiltonJake HarpGordon HartJim Hasler and

Carol CochraneKen and Christina HavardAudrey Heagy and

David OkinesDr. Don G. HedgesTed HillaryNorman and Marilyn

HoldenDr. Geoff L. Holroyd and

Elisabeth BeaubienDr. Donna HoltonRichard D. HowsonMichael S. HutchinsYvonne C. InksterDr. Ian JeffreyDon and Susan JohnstonJanette JohnstonCatherine JonesHelen A. JuholaGordon and Dorothy KellyAlan KennedyAudrey KennyWayne KinsellaDr. Margaret A. KirkDwight P. KnapikNancy E. KruegerJean KustraDoreen and Gordon LakAlex and Doris LandonCathy LapainRobert LeBrunDr. Ross Lein and Val

HainesLuc LemieuxRonald LepageDick and Ruth Ann LoganVerna LoganDavid and Kathleen LoveHarry G. LumsdenRod MacFadyenDr. Charles D. MacInnesDr. Jock and Samm MacKayJessie MacKenzie and

Ernest TateStu MackenzieAlan MacLeod and

Jan BrownBarbara J. MannBlake A. MannKarl and Maria Mascher

Eric B. McAlaryBev McBrideDr. John and Dorothy

McCallumAnne McConnell and

Ross HirningJon McCrackenDiana McDougall-Deakin

and Ian DeakinJanice McKean and

Art WiebeDr. Alan McKeownDr. Peter and

Margaret McLarenDeirdre E. McLeanBill McMartinAnna MetcalfeCatherine A. MilneFred and Jean MooiBrian MooreJohn W. MorrisWing MorseToni MoutrayPeter and Molly MulloyJames S. MurrayLouise NicholsDavid and Marilyn NighHelen and John O’BrianViveka T. OhmanGeorge PanciukAnthony and Jocelyn PapiDarwin and Betty ParkMarguerite A. PattersonAlena PeroutJ. Janne PerrinSusan J. PhillipsDiane PopeElizabeth PorterRod and Denise PotterDr. John F. PrescottLou ProbstDr. Richard N. RankinDr. Laurene M. RatcliffeBill ReadFlavia RedelmeierDr. Keith H. RidingAlan and Pat RobinsonSusan and Keith RogersJan RosenederMichael Rowlands and

Sandy StarkSylvie RoyRuth RutledgeSheila P. Ryan

Dr. June Ryder and Dr. Michael Church

Alicia Salyi and Fergus NicollCarla SbertDavid H. SeelyRobert A. SharpElizabeth V. SiftonRoger M. SimmsSusanne SlobodaElaine Smith and familyJames and Gerda SmithPeggy L. SmithMichael J. SparksMilton and Elaine SpitzerJames and Barbara StewartDr. David and Cathy SturdeeDr. Bridget J. StutchburyLinda SullivanPeter and Sharon TaylorTerry and Greg TellierShelley Ann ThibaudeauGraham ThomsKeith ThomsonChristopher and Viki TolleyCarol Ann TrabertAlain TremblayKatherine L. TurnerRemi and Rhoda Van HorikRohan and Marina van TwestGrant VistorinoAlan and Frances VyseKeith WadeMarlene Waldron and

Ward ChristiansonPeter WebbThuraya WeedonBruce WelshNadine WestcottRobert S. WestlandDonna WilliamsLeueen WilloughbyGeorge A. WilsonMyrna WoodRoss W. WoodDolf and Anne WyniaClifton and Elaine YoungJennifer YoungWalter and Brenda

Zimmerman

* Deceased

We also thank the 11,991 donors who gave less than $250.

2012 2011AssetsCurrent assets 1,326,125 1,385,090 Investments 4,014,955 3,955,641 Capital assets 1,815,199 1,951,765

7,156,279 7,292,496 Liabilities and Fund BalancesCurrent liabilities 830,557 972,341

Fund balances: Invested capital assets 1,715,199 1,851,765 Externally restricted 908,886 887,048 Internally restricted 3,396,853 3,326,905 Unrestricted 304,784 254,437

7,156,279 7,292,496

Staff

2012 2011RevenueFees 229,481 222,209 Donations 261,510 190,927 Grants and projects 3,559,692 3,339,196 Fundraising 321,860 289,571 Investment income 189,409 213,188 Other 98,276 88,917

4,660,228 4,344,008 ExpensesAdministration 353,321 320,289 Amortization of capital assets 187,187 192,367 Conservation and Research LPBO 170,571 132,865 LPWWRF programs 561,594 619,827 Regional programs 2,299,116 1,896,457 National and international programs 753,667 608,421Fundraising and membership development 100,246 97,745 Membership services 230,224 255,822Grants 17,500 21,170Other 3,428 3,029

4,676,854 4,147,992

Excess (deficiency) of revenue over expenses Operating Fund 6,270 119,504 Endowment Fund 187,201 225,684 Capital Fund (187,155) (183,764) Baillie Fund 5,922 (21,027) Tarry Fund (29,314) Murre Fund 450

(27,382) 83,001

Total (16,626) 196,016 Unrealized Gain (Loss)-Investments (Endowment) 22,193 142,899Member’s equity, beginning 6,320,155 5,981,240 Member’s equity, ending 6,325,722 6,320,155

* Member’s Equity consists of:Operating Fund 304,215 250,472Endowment Fund - General 705,344 730,053 - LPBO 557,106 571,725 - Tarry Fund 1,471,487 1,405,284 - LPWWRF 517,781 507,472 - Comp. Income 764,182 4,015,900 741,990 3,956,524 Capital Fund 1,862,134 1,994,192 Baillie Fund 59,453 32,001 Tarry Fund (operating)Murre Fund

56983,451

3,965 83,001

6,325,722 6,320,155

Condensed Statement of Financial PositionYear ending 31 March

Fees & donations18%

Investment income and other

6%

Grants & projects76%

Membership services& program mgmt.

15%LPBO

4%

LPW programs

12%

Regional programs49% National &

international programs

16%Decrease in

members’ equity0%

Other4%

Condensed Balance SheetYear ending 31 March

Revenue Source

Use of Funds

Copies of BSC’s audited financial statements can be downloaded from our website at: http://www.birdscanada.org/download/2011-12audit.pdf or are available on request.

**

Sue Abbott (Nova Scotia Piping Plover Sue Abbott (Nova Scotia Program Coordinator); Jody Allair (Biologist and Science Educator); Christian Artuso, Ph.D. (Manitoba Projects Manager); Debbie Badzinski (Ontario Program Manager); Tracy Barber (Data Entry Technician); Liza Barney (Science Educator); Ted Barney (Biologist, LPW); Karen Barry (BC Projects Officer); Lynn Batty (Membership Services Assistant, from Oct. 2011); Kate Bredin (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator); Robert Butler, Ph.D. (BC Program Scientist); Greg Campbell (Atlantic Region Project Biologist); Margaret Campbell (Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Coordinator); Richard Cannings (Senior Projects Officer); Bonnie Chartier

(Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas Assistant Coordinator); John Conkin (Prairie MMP Assistant Manager); Andrew Coughlan (Quebec Program Manager); Andrew Couturier (Senior Analyst-Landscape Ecology and Conservation); Tara Crewe (Bird Conservation Biologist); Christine Curry (Nova Scotia Outreach Coordinator); Peter Davidson (BC Program Manager); Christopher Di Corrado (BC Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator); Kristine Dobney (Membership Services & Accounting Facilitator); Kiel Drake, Ph.D. (Prairie Marsh Monitoring Program Manager); Greg Dunn (LPW Communications Manager); Myles Falconer (Ontario Region Project Biologist); George Finney, Ph.D. (President); Audrey Heagy (Bird Conservation Planning

Biologist); Catherine Jardine (Database Technician, from Nov. 2011); Eva Jenkins (Conservation GIS Analyst, from Jan. 2012); Kathy Jones (Ontario Programs Volunteer Coordinator); Rosie Kirton (Membership Database Manager); Denis Lepage, Ph.D. (Senior Scientist – National Data Centre); Stu Mackenzie (Landbird Program Coordinator); Allison Manthorne (Maritimes SwiftWatch Coordinator); Sandra Marquez (Conservation GIS Analyst, until Nov. 2011); Jon McCracken (Director of National Programs); Janet Moore (IBA Technical Coordinator); Jason Palframan (AE Lab Technician); Scott Petrie, Ph.D. (Executive Director, LPW); Cindy Pilkington (Member Services Assistant, until Aug. 2011); Kristyn Richardson (Ontario Programs

Board of DirectorsArt Martell, BC (Chair, from Sep. 2011); C. Davison Ankney (from Sep. 2011); Kathleen Blanchard, NL (from Sep. 2011); Arnold Boer, NB (Treasurer); Karen Brown, ON (Vice Chair); J. Alexander Burnett, NB; George Clulow, BC (until Sep. 2011); Loney Dickson, AB (from Sep. 2011); Evan Engell, ON (from Sep. 2011); Bryce Hunter, ON; Kate MacQuarrie, PE (until May 2011); Jean-Pierre Martel, ON (from Sep. 2011); Hugh McArthur, ON; Betsy McFarlane, QC; Margaret Skeel, SK; David Smith, ON (until Sep. 2011); Louis Visentin, ON (Chair, until Sep. 2011); Richard Waterous, ON; Mark Whitmore, MB (Secretary); Warren Winkler, ON (until Sep. 2011).

National Science Advisory CouncilKeith Hobson, SK (Chair); Suzanne Carrière, NT; Chris Guglielmo, ON; Diana Hamilton, NB; Art Martell, ON (ex officio); Kathy Martin, BC; Bill Montevecchi, NL; Laurene Ratcliffe, ON; Jean-Pierre Savard, QC; Philip Taylor, NS.

Honorary DirectorsRobert Bateman; Fred Bodsworth; James Cruise; Fredrik Eaton, Sr.; J. Bruce Falls; William B. Harris; Chandler S. Robbins.

Baillie Fund TrusteesJ. Alexander Burnett, NB; Dan Busby, ON (Chair, from Sep. 2011); Geoff Carpentier, ON (Chair, until Sep. 2011); George Clulow, BC; Erica Dunn, ON; Art Martell, BC (ex officio); Jean-Pierre Savard, QC; Margaret Skeel, SK; Isabelle Schmeltzer, NL.

Long Point Bird Observatory CommitteeDawn Burke, ON (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Past Chair); Eric Machell, ON (Ontario Bird Banding Association); Art Martell, BC (ex officio); Hugh McArthur, ON (Chair); Jim Oliver, ON; Jeff Robinson, ON (Canadian Wildlife Service); Diane Salter, ON; Julia Wever, ON.

Directors and Committee Members

$50,000 and over

BC HydroCentre for Indigenous Environmental

Resources Inc. (Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk)

Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service, Habitat Stewardship Program, Natural Science & Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Science Horizons

Manitoba HydroOntario Power Generation Inc.Province of British ColumbiaProvince of New Brunswick - Department

of Natural Resources, Environmental Trust Fund, Wildlife Trust Fund

Province of Ontario - Ministry of Natural Resources

Saskatchewan Watershed AuthorityS.C. Johnson & Son, Ltd.Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.TD - Community Giving, TD Friends of

the Environment FoundationThe Gosling FoundationThe Ontario Association of Community

Futures - Sand Plains Community Development Fund

University of WindsorU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceWildlife Habitat Canada

Between $10,000 and $50,000

Alberta NAWMP Science FundAlternative Land Use Services (ALUS)

Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows Ltd.Canadian Wildlife FoundationDucks Unlimited CanadaHabitat Conservation Trust FoundationLGL LimitedLong Point Waterfowlers’ AssociationNature CanadaOntario Federation of Anglers and HuntersParks CanadaProvince of Manitoba - Conservation and

Water Stewardship, Endangered Species and Biodiversity Fund

Province of Nova Scotia - Department of Natural Resources, Habitat Conservation Fund

Province of Saskatchewan - Fish & Wildlife

Real Estate Foundation of B.C.Service Canada - Canada Summer JobsThe Ontario Trillium FoundationThe University of Western OntarioUplands FoundationU.S. Forest ServiceWaterfowl Research Foundation, Inc.

Between $1000 and $10,000

Armstrong Milling Co. Ltd.Aves Press LimitedBC NatureBMO Nesbitt BurnsCanadian Wildlife FederationCanadian Wind Energy Association

(CanWEA)Caribou Wind Park Limited Partnership

Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation

Davis LLPEagle Optics.ca (Grant & Wyatt Enterprises

Inc.)Eagle-Eye Tours Inc.EnCana CorporationEnvironmental Careers Organization of

CanadaESRI CanadaFriends of the OspreyHawk Migration Association of North

AmericaImperial Oil FoundationLong Point World Biosphere Reserve

FoundationMuskegon Conservation DistrictNatural Resource Solutions Inc.Order Of Good CheerProvince of Prince Edward Island -

Department of Agriculture & Forestry, Wildlife Conservation Fund

Rondeau Bay Waterfowlers AssociationSoderglen Ranches Ltd.The Bradstreet Family FoundationThe Burton Charitable FoundationThe Creemore Coffee CompanyThe Friends of Belle IsleThe John and Judy Bragg Family

FoundationThe Kenneth M. Molson FoundationThe Winnipeg FoundationUPM-KymmeneUSGS Alaska Science CenterVortex CanadaWild Birds Unlimited

Government, Foundation & Corporate Sponsors and Partners

Stewardship Intern); Anne Marie Ridout (Accounting & Facilities Administrator); Ron Ridout (Technical Support & Design Specialist); Barbara Robinson (Communications Consultant); Mike Schummer, Ph.D. (Scientist, LPW); Elaine

Secord (Communications and Public Affairs Manager); Becky Stewart (Atlantic Canada Program Manager); Doug Tozer, Ph.D. (Aquatic Surveys Biologist); Elisabeth van Stam (Ontario Region Project Biologist); Liane Varga (Chief Financial Officer); Kerrie

Wilcox (Project FeederWatch Coordinator/Executive Assistant); Ross Wood (Assistant Landbird Programs Coordinator, until Dec. 2011); John Woodcock (Thunder Cape Bird Observatory Coordinator).

Bird Studies CanadaThe mission of Bird Studies Canada is to advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and their habitats, in Canada and elsewhere, through studies that engage the skills, enthusiasm, and support of members, volunteers, and the interested public. Bird Studies Canada is a national not-for-profit organization built on the enthusiastic contributions of thousands of volunteer Citizen Scientists. Data from Bird Studies Canada’s volunteer surveys and targeted research projects help identify significant population changes and direct conservation planning.

Bird Studies CanadaP.O. Box 160, 115 Front StreetPort Rowan, ON N0E 1M0Ph. 1-888-448-2473Fax 519-586-3532 generalinfo@birdscanada.org www.birdscanada.org www.oiseauxcanada.org

Regional Offices:

British Columbia Program OfficeBird Studies CanadaPacific Wildlife Research Centre5421 Robertson RoadDelta, BC V4K 3N2Ph. 1-877-349-2473 or 604-940-4688pdavidson@birdscanada.org orbcprograms@birdscanada.org

Saskatchewan Program OfficeBird Studies Canada115 Perimeter RoadSaskatoon, SK S7N 0X4Ph. 306-249-2894prairieprograms@birdscanada.org

Manitoba Program OfficeBird Studies CanadaBox 24, 200 Saulteaux CrescentWinnipeg, MB R3J 3W3Ph. 1-800-214-6497 or 204-945-6816cartuso@birdscanada.org

Ontario Program OfficeBird Studies CanadaP.O. Box 160, 115 Front StreetPort Rowan, ON N0E 1M0Ph. 1-888-448-2473 or 519-586-3531dbadzinski@birdscanada.org

Québec Program OfficeÉtudes d’Oiseaux Canada 801-1550, avenue d’EstimauvilleQuébec (Québec) G1J 0C3 Ph. 1-866-518-0212 or 418-649-6062acoughlan@oiseauxcanada.org

Atlantic Canada Program OfficeBird Studies CanadaP.O. Box 6227, 17 Waterfowl LaneSackville, NB E4L 1G6Ph. 506-364-5047 bstewart@birdscanada.org

Headquarters and National Research Centre

Cover Photo: Chimney Swift nest © Ron Ridout