Migration Monitoring

Initiated in 1984, migration monitoring is the longest running program established at the BBO. Migration monitoring is a means of documenting changes in abundance of northern-nesting species across broad geographic scales that are relatively inaccessible for breeding season surveys

• The program became fully standardized in 1990 and 13 mist-nets are currently operated at the BBO.
• Banding starts a half-hour before sunrise and runs for 6 hours
• Spring monitoring occurs: ~ April 1 to June 9th
• Fall monitoring occurs: ~ August 1 to October 10th
• Banding occurs during standard weather conditions with no significant precipitation
• BBO reports daily estimated totals, which are combinations of: standardized banding, daily census, and casual observations.

These methods are also used at over two dozen stations across Canada who belong to the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN), which BBO joined as a full member in 1992. 

CMMN is a cooperative venture among:

• Independent migration monitoring stations, such as the BBO, who collect data
• Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), who regulates permitting
• Bird Studies Canada (BSC), who carries out trend analysis

Migration monitoring requires substantial effort by skilled staff and volunteers, and ongoing financial support for infrastructure and salaries.