Contact Information | Board and Staff | How to Join / Memberships | LSLBO in the News
Partners & Sponsors | IBA Designation | Donations

"Dedicated to Bird Conservation through Research and Education"

Why We Are Here

Why has the LSLBO located its main banding operations in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park?
Here’s why…

Researchers have established that Lesser Slave Lake and nearby Marten Mountain act as a natural barrier to migratory birds. Many migrant birds avoid crossing the lake and veer to the east. Marten Mountain, elevation 1020 metres above sea level, funnels the migrants along the shoreline. Observatory staff refers to this phenomena as the "Point Pelee effect". On any given spring or fall morning, you can observe hundreds of songbirds migrating through the site.

The LSLBO is in existence for many reasons, not the least of which is to conserve bird populations in the boreal forest. The LSLBO is the northernmost migration monitoring station in Canada. As such, it is well positioned to collect critical information on the boreal forest breeding grounds of Neotropical migratory birds. Its research goals are to contribute data to an international effort to determine changes in populations of migratory birds and to document migration at the station itself.

Who We Are and What We Do

Photo by Raymond Toal

The LSLBO began in 1993 with a committee of three enthusiastic volunteers, who conducted a pilot study in 1992 in the Lesser Slave Lake area to determine if an observatory at Lesser Slave Lake was viable. Results were positive, so an independent, non-profit society, the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory, was established in 1994, formed from a solid base of volunteers in a local bird club. The LSLBO was incorporated in 1997 and continues to be run by local volunteers. The organization currently hires seasonal staff for research and education programs as well as one administrative staff person year-round.

Since it was established in 1994, the LSLBO’s banders have banded over 38000 birds, representing 242 different species. Banding is just one of the many types of research that the LSLBO is involved in though. The Canada Warbler Project, Owl Monitoring Program and Tundra Swan Surveys are just a few of many projects we are responsible for. For more information, please see the research section of this site.

The LSLBO is also in the education business: offering a wide variety of programs for kids all the way up to adults, focusing mainly on birds and conservation issues. If you would like more information on these programs, stop by the Events & Education section of this site.

Of course, the LSLBO’s success would not have been possible without help from our sponsors and the partnerships that have been forged with Parks and Protected Areas, Alberta Community Development and the Lesser Slave Forest Education Society. Many thanks go out to all who have helped us get to where we are now.

BOARD
		Chairperson Robert W. Deacon E-mail: bob.deacon@lslbo.org
		Vice-Chair Peter Moor E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org e
		Fundraising Director Ronda Groom E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org
		Editor/Treasurer Chris Sepos E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org My name is Chris Sepos. I have lived in Slave Lake for over 31/2 years.  I moved here from Vancouver Island with my husband. My interest in birds and volunteer work led me to the LSLBO over 2 years ago when I became a board member and editor for the Warbler. Due to growing work commitments and a growing family, I have not been able to contribute as much time to the Warbler but I am still a dedicated board member for the LSLBO. I am very much looking forward to the building and opening of the BCBC, which I think will be a great achievement for the LSLBO.
Secretary		Chelsea Martin E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org
Director of Field Operations and Research		Jul Wojnowski E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org

STAFF
	MANAGER AMY WOTTON E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org
	DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH RICHARD KNAPTON E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org
	TREASURER Vacant
	OPERATIONS STEFAN JUNGKIND E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org
	IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR STEVE LANE E-Mail: birds@lslbo.org
	MAINTENANCE Vacant
	BANDING ASSISTANT RICHARD KRIKUN E-Mail: bic@lslbo.org Richard began banding birds in the summer of 2000 at the Beaverhill Bird Observatory. He enjoyed the banding and the bird research so much that he worked three summers there. He is looking forward to the new experiences that working here at the LSLBO will bring. Richard also brings with him owl banding expertise and many new research ideas.
Important Volunteers
	DATA MANAGER DRAJS VUJINOVIC E-Mail: education@lslbo.org

MEMBERSHIPS

Woodpecker Photo by Raymond Toal

New membership prices, as of June 2005:

Memberships include:

• Personalized membership card
• on-line newsletter published 3 times a year – The Warbler
• Invitations to “members only” events
• Member discounts for programs, guest passes, volunteer opportunities, products
• Annual report – vote at annual meeting

LSLBO IN THE NEWS

Title of news article, where it appeared and when (i.e. “Christmas Bird Count Sets New Record, Lakeside Leader, January 12, 2005) – will come up in a pop-up window, with a close button

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

We would like to thank our partners and sponsors for their continued support in our research and education efforts.

West Fraser (Alberta Plywood, Slave Lake Pulp)
Weyerhaeuser Canada
Tolko Industries (Slave Lake)
Manning Diversified Forest Products
Alberta Conservation Association
Employment Programs
Canadian Wildlife Service
Nature Canada
ATCO Electric
Alberta Lotteries
Parks and Protected Areas
Vanderwell Contractors Ltd.

IBA DESIGNATION

What is an Important Bird Area?

The Canadian BirdLife International partners -- the Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada established the Canadian Important Bird Areas Program as part of an international effort to identify and conserve sites important to all bird species worldwide.

The goals of the Canadian Important Bird Area (IBA) program are to:

• Identify a network of sites that conserve the natural diversity of Canadian bird species and are critical to the long-term viability of naturally occurring bird populations
• Determine the type of protection or stewardship required for each site and ensure the conservation of sites through partnerships of local stakeholders who develop and implement appropriate on-the-ground conservation plans
• Establish ongoing local involvement in site protection and monitoring

As Lesser Slave Lake is designated as an IBA (Important Bird Area), during the spring of 2000, Tundra Swans concentrate in significant numbers at Lesser Slave Lake, with flocks of up to 3500 reported during both spring and fall migrations. Such numbers represent between1% and 2% of the North American population of Tundra Swans. Western Grebes also nest on and around Lesser Slave Lake; hence Lesser Slave Lake’s designation as an IBA.

DONATIONS