Fall Migration Monitoring at the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory has ended. We normally wrap-up September 30, but ran through October 3 this year since overnight temperatures were still relatively warm, potentially delaying movements of short-distance migrants. These three extra days were not enough, however, to find those missing migrants as counts fizzled into mostly… Read more »
Weekly Reports
September 19 – 25, 2024
September 12 – 18, 2024
Overhead songbird migration and captures have been slow at the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory as the end of Fall Migration Monitoring nears, but that is not to say nothing interesting has happened. We caught a Pileated Woodpecker – only the thirteenth we have ever banded and the first since 2019! As Canada’s largest woodpecker,… Read more »
September 5 – 11, 2024
Every year, billions of birds from over 300 species migrate to Canada’s Boreal Forest to breed, and twice as many make the journey south to warmer wintering grounds.1 Some days at the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory, we may see thousands of geese or songbirds flying overhead in the early morning hours, but this is… Read more »
August 29 – September 4, 2024
We have just begun owl migration monitoring at the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory with nine Northern Saw-Whet Owls banded so far. Since the program’s inception in 2004, 2,248 of these pop can-sized owls have been banded. In 2016, our second target species, the slightly larger Boreal Owl, was added to the roster with fifteen… Read more »
August 22 – 28, 2024
Ask the field staff how the past week has been going at the station, and the response is SLOW! With fall arriving in the boreal forest, we are observing a significant slowdown in fall migration with captures of some warbler species slowing down to a trickle. We are also starting to observe flocks of migratory… Read more »
August 15 – 21, 2024
As August slips away many of our long-distance migratory birds have departed for Central and South America so our counts and captures have slowed considerably. Soon we will say our last farewells to the few remaining stragglers and welcome tundra-breeding migrants. We must also say goodbye to our seasonal staff. While it has been a… Read more »
August 8 – 14, 2024
August was passing uneventfully for the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory until August 8 when a Black Bear approached within 5 m of field staff while they were yelling at it. Thankfully we always carry a canister of bear spray – even better, we have not yet needed to use one. We did not care… Read more »
August 1 – 7, 2024
Summer is slipping away fast at the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory. By the time August is over, we will have seen the last of most of our long-distance migrants that arrived only a few months ago for a hurried breeding season in the boreal forest. Their long journeys seem to have been worth every… Read more »
July 25 – 31, 2024
After being delayed by high winds and rain late last week which brought a few small trees down over our nets and trails, the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory finally completed our breeding-focused Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program on May 28, 2024. In general, MAPS went smoothly with a few delays caused by… Read more »
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The 30th Annual Slave Lake Christmas Bird Count will be taking place on Sunday, December 15th this year. This one-day census of the wintering birds in the Slave Lake Area is always a highlight for local residents. Join one of our birding groups to search for birds in town or local forest routes. Or you can help us out by recording the number and type of birds visiting your feeder that day. New participants are always welcome for this fun event. ![]()
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Feeling a little rusty on your bird ID? We will be holding a special Winter Bird ID Crash Course on Thursday, Dec 12th at the local Library for anyone wanting to brush up on their winter bird ID before the Christmas Bird Count. ![]()
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For more information or to sign up for the Christmas Bird Count or the Winter Bird ID presentation, just call 780-849-8240 or email info@borealbirdcentre.ca
Today, the Lesser Slave Forest Education Society and Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory said goodbye to Danika Wack; our wonderful Boreal Educator. After spending 2 and a half years with us delivering school fieldtrips, bird observatory tours, and community outreach programs, Danika is heading off on some well deserved travel adventures. Thank you for everything you have done for our education programs, your kind and generous spirit, and for being such an integral part of our team. Movie nights won't be the same without you, but we wish you well on your exciting adventures to come! ![]()
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(L to R) Patti - LSLBO Executive Director, Danika, Cori - LSFES Executive Director. And if it looks like we are trying to keep her from leaving, we were!
Last night was our Assistant Bander Bronwyn's last shift on our Fall Owl Monitoring Program as she gets ready to head home after a long season. Staff came out to enjoy the evening with her and we were very lucky to have a Northern Saw-whet Owl and a very feisty Boreal Owl stop by as well! Wishing safe travels to Bronwyn as well as the owls!