2007-08-010-C9 Teslin Lake Bird Banding Station, Ben Schonewille
Summary
The Teslin Lake Bird Banding Station has been in operation since 2005 with financial support coming from numerous agencies including the Teslin Renewable Resources Council, Environment Canada (CWS), Yukon Environment and the Yukon Bird Club. For the 2007 spring season, a sizable financial contribution was made by the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Trust. The objectives of the banding station are as follows:
• Collect baseline data pertaining to bird migration in the Teslin region.
• Provide a unique educational opportunity for community members and tourists of all ages.
• Gain a better understanding of the avifauna of the Yukon in general.
The banding station serves as a method of carrying out research on birds which is shared through an international database. This is due to the possibility of a banded bird being recaptured across international borders. Many of the birds banded at Teslin Lake are highly migratory spending the winter months as far south as Central and South America. The station also plays a role in education as a place where the public, volunteers and students can take part in a unique, community based research project.
During the spring season, the station was operated1 for 25 days from April 22nd to June 2nd. Over this time period, 1,267 birds of 43 species were banded and 91 species were observed.
The project involved the collection of data pertaining to bird migration through the Teslin region. This was done using the capture of birds (and banding) in addition to the observation of all birds during each day of operation. The ultimate goal of the project activities were to calculate an “estimated daily total” for each species during each day.
In addition to collecting the above data, the station was an excellent location for all members of the public to visit the station and learn about birds and bird migration as well as scientific data collection in general (see section 3.3 for a breakdown of visitor hours tabulated at the station). The activities undertaken by this project directly achieved the goals identified. The data collected by this project serves as baseline data on bird distribution and migration in the Teslin region and will be valuable for comparisons to future years of operation of the station. Through the collection of such baseline data, it is hoped that future land use practices will be able to be modified or adjusted to accommodated songbirds and/or their habitats as possible. Additionally, gaining a better understanding of bird distribution in the Yukon is crucial in making sound management decisions which may affect particular bird songbird species.
This project followed the objectives as initially planned and did not have any unexpected positive or negative effects on the welfare of fish, wildlife and/or their habitat.
To download a copy of the report, click here: Teslin Lake Bird Banding Station, Ben Schonewille 2007 (pdf).
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