Kyle Cameron, Ontario Projects Biologist at Birds Canada
Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) and Birds Canada are proud to celebrate another successful summer of the Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop (YOW)!
Under the tutelage of Birds Canada professional ornithologists Emma Buck, Kyle Cameron, Samuel Perfect, Kalvin Chan, Kiah Jasper, Caillie Monrad, and Alessandra Wilcox, they spent most mornings learning how to accurately collect and record migration monitoring data, including all the intricacies of bird banding. The afternoons were filled with various activities including: preparing museum specimens, mothing and naturalizing across Norfolk County, a presentation on herptiles and road ecology, a forest exploration tea tasting with Mississaugas of the Credit Elder Mark Sault, and a trip to the incomparable Tip of Long Point.
Throughout the week, the YOWs were thrust into the life of a field biologist and woke up before sunrise to conduct migration monitoring at LPBO’s Old Cut Research Station. Under the tutelage of Birds Canada professional ornithologists Emma Buck, Kyle Cameron, Samuel Perfect, Kalvin Chan, Kiah Jasper, Caillie Monrad, and Alessandra Wilcox, they spent most mornings learning how to accurately collect and record migration monitoring data, including all the intricacies of bird banding. The afternoons were filled with various activities including: preparing museum specimens, mothing and naturalizing across Norfolk County, a presentation on herptiles and road ecology, a forest exploration tea tasting with Mississaugas of the Credit Elder Mark Sault, and a trip to the incomparable Tip of Long Point.
Figure 1. Target Survey Effort for Atlas-3
“The LPBO YOW was an incredible introduction into the world of field ornithology and natural history of the Lake Erie region. In addition to the daily life as a bander at Old Cut Station, it was fascinating to participate in a wide variety of other activities during our incredibly busy week. I particularly relished the opportunity to release baby turtles at Crown Marsh and learn about the conservation work regarding them and the other reptiles and amphibians of Norfolk County. Our nights were just as busy as the days and I had a hoot chasing after Pandorus and Laurel Sphinxes, finding various other moths, hearing Eastern Whip-poor-wills (lifer!) and watching the stars! All in all, I had an amazing experience at LPBO and I can’t wait to be back!”
– Julia Froese, YOW participant August 2024
Support youth in bird research and conservation
Youth engagement, education, and training are essential in our efforts to conserve Canada’s birds and the habitats they rely on. This workshop is supported in part by the Doug Tarry Natural History Fund and gracious supporters of Long Point Bird Observatory. If you’d like to show your support for the Young Ornithologists’ Workshop, you can do so with a donation to LPBO or contact Birds Canada to discuss giving options.
2024 Young Ornithologists’ Workshop participants visited several sites during their intensive week of hands-on programming at LPBO.
A very special thank-you to the Tarry Family, Vortex Canada, and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for their support of the program as well as all of our guest speakers, Mary Gartshore, Peter Carson, Cynthia Brink, Natasha Barlow, Matt Timpf, and Mark Sault, and LPBO volunteers, Catherine Manschot, Kalvin Chan, Caillie Monrad, Alessandra Wilcox, and Kiah Jasper. Vortex Canada is LPBO’s official optics partner, supporting our youth engagement programs. Vortex Canada outfitted the YOWs with quality binoculars and spotting scopes, and helped to support costs of travel and accommodation.
More about the Young Ornithologists’ Workshop
The workshop was named in honour of the late Doug Tarry, who had the generosity and foresight to help LPBO establish a fund that supports youth education to this day.
The workshop aims to foster the passion and knowledge of promising youth from across Canada through an intensive week of hands-on ornithological, science, and naturalist-oriented programming at LPBO.
Previous participants are eligible to return to LPBO in the year following their workshop as Young Ornithologist Interns.
The internship builds upon the fundamentals learned during the workshop, providing more advanced instruction and involvement in other aspects of the observatory’s research program.
The workshop began as youth excursions in the late 70s, and developed into the workshop format that has been offered annually since 1991. Over 200+ youth have been through the program so far. The alumni include some of Canada’s best and brightest scientists, ornithologists, and naturalists, and numerous Birds Canada staff.
For information on applying, visit birdscanada.org/discover-birds/training-and-workshops in early 2025 and follow Long Point Bird Observatory on social media.