With summer well underway, we would like to share with you some of the activities PIBO has been doing during the last few months. Spring migration is over, and the staff have had a busy late spring/early summer with the Breeding Bird Point Counts and Marsh Monitoring Survey. Also, our summer employee, Melanie Denomme, has spent several Saturdays talking about birds to locals and tourists at the weekly farmer's markets. She has also hosted several tours at the Pelee Island Winery and Fish Point Nature Reserve; this is the first time in years that we have engaged an employee during the summer season and outside the two migration periods, and it has worked out very well!
Thanks to Bander in Charge and Field Supervisor, Sumiko Onishi and Biologist Sachi Schott, The Pelee Island Heritage Centre has a new PIBO exhibit as part of their collection. If you are on Pelee this summer, be sure to check it out!
Purple Martins have additional accommodations at the PIBO staff house thanks to a donation of a T-14 model by Nature Canada. We now have two martin houses and have had several breeding pairs set up their homes this spring. With so many martins around, PIBO is thinking of doing public nest checks next spring (staff permitting) to explain the fantastic abilities of these ariel insectivores.
While the Education and Administration staff are in full swing, July is time for some rest and recuperation for PIBO researchers. August 1st marks the beginning of census and the 15th will see the opening of the net lanes. It's almost fall migration already!
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