Port Weller West Pier Migration Study, May 2014 J.E. Black, June 2014

Transcription

1 1 Coast-guard vessel Cape Storm - Edith Bacon Port Weller West Pier Migration Study, May 2014 J.E. Black, June Introduction Each morning in May, from 1993 to 1997, observers recorded the number of individual birds (primarily passerine migrants) on the Port Weller West Pier north of the coast-guard station and on the Port Weller East Pier beside a small island. The Study, as it was called, was designed to be repeatable so that changes in bird numbers, if any, occurring in the future could be detected. The year (2013) seemed appropriate for starting such a repeat since 20 years is the period between successive Ontario Bird Atlases. Unfortunately, the habitat near the island on the East Pier has changed dramatically since the years 1993 to No comparison of the island birds of the first study with the island birds of today would be meaningful; therefore, this May and in 2013, we systematically counted birds only on the West Pier area north of the coast-guard station. Counts were also, however, conducted informally in Malcomson Woods. This is the second year of a 5-year study. Results for the year 2013 are available in the report entitled Port Weller West Pier Migration Study In this report, results from the 2014 study are first described. Following this description, a comparison is made between the total number of individuals for each species seen in May 2013 and May 2014 and the total number of individuals for each species seen in each of the years 1993 to The emphasis of this comparison is on identifying species seen in 2013 and 2014 whose totals lie above or below the range of May totals observed in the Study.

2 2 While the comparison of individual years is interesting it is now clear that what is needed is a comparison of the averages and mean numbers for each species over the period with averages and mean numbers for each species over the period; therefore, this report concludes with a recommendation that the study be repeated in 2015, 2016 and Many observers were willing to donate their time and expertise to the project this year. The observers were: Jennifer Barraza, Jesse Barraza, John Black, Peter BonEnfant, Philip Downey, Lynda Goodridge, Jean Hampson, Bob Highcock, Carol Horvat, Marcie Jacklin, Jeremy Knapton, Judy Robins, Dan Salisbury, Maggie Smiley, Nancy Smith, John Stevens and Katherine Stoltz. Note that John Black, Marcie Jacklin, Kayo Roy and Maggie Smiley participated in the Study. Left to right: Bob Highcock, Jean Hampson and coast guard crew member Christian Hank in front of the coast-guard station - John Black 2-Results of the May 2014 Study The focus of this study is passerine migrants. Some abundant passerines not counted were American Robins, Blue Jays, American Crows, Black-capped Chickadees, European Starlings, Northern Cardinals, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and House Sparrows. These are birds that breed in the Niagara Region and are very common here. The only non-passerines counted were Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Cliff Swallows, Purple Martins and cuckoos. Note that the results of the 2014 study are presented in Master Tables 2014: Master Table s 2013 vs Master Table All PWW Data 2014 Master Table A Comparison of 2014 and Results for All Species Master Table Resident Species 2014 Master Table Non-resident Species 2014 Master Table 4a-2014 Non-resident Species Means and Medians 2014 Master Table Species with s in 2014 Outside the Range of s Master Table 5a-2014 Species with s in 2013 and/or 2014 Outside the s Master Table A Comparison of 2013 and 2014 and Results for Warblers

3 3 The raw observational data for Port Weller West are presented in Master Table Note that inclement weather was not a problem, and the count, as it did in the Study, took place on all 31 days in May. A comparison of totals for 2013 and 2014 is presented in Master Table A discussion of the Study results is presented in the chapter entitled Monitoring Migrants on the Port Weller Piers in May in Niagara Birds (Black and Roy (2010)) and in Black (1997). See also Black ( ). This report summarizes the most significant parts of data in Master Tables A description of the count protocol is provided in Appendix 1. The Port Weller Checklist used by the counters in this study, and in the Study, is shown in Appendix 2 and the data entry checklist used by the 2014 compilers is shown in Appendix 3. Appendix 4 contains a discussion of the West Pier study area in 2013 and the changes that have occurred in the habitat since the Study. Several additional changes in the habitat have occurred since May 2013 and they are described in Appendix A summary of the birds counted in 1993 on the West Pier is presented in Appendix 5. Detailed results for the Port Weller West Pier Study from 1993 to 1997 are presented in Table A5.1 in the Appendix. Daily counter notes from 2014, along with information on species of birds not included in the count, are presented in Appendix Perhaps the most noteworthy sighting was that of a Clay-coloured Sparrow on May 8 and May 9. Mary Ellen Hebb and I observed a Clay-coloured Sparrow on Port Weller West on May 8 in 1994! The only record during the Port Weller Study! A single Fish Crow was observed on May 10. A single Coyote was observed on May 6, 26 and 30. Results from informal observations in Malcomson Woods (located south of the West Pier) are described in Appendix Results for 2013 for the island on the Port Weller East pier are presented in Appendix 8. This May 2014, we systematically counted birds only on the West Pier area north of the coast-guard station. There is therefore no island data for An unusual black swallow was observed just outside the study area by the coast-guard boat dock in This black swallow is described in Appendix 9. A black swallow was also observed in May 2014 and some information on its presence is described in Appendix The Appendices are not discussed below.

4 4 Rough-winged swallow and melanistic (or soiled by boat engine soot) partner at the coast-guard station just after the boat in which they had been building a nest in left - John Black 3-Comparison of the total number of individuals for each species seen in May 2014 with the total number of individuals for each species seen in each of the years 1993 to 1997 Results of the comparison are presented in Master Table and shown below. Species 2014 s s 1997 s inside or outside of range Ruby-throated Hummingbird above Great Crested Flycatcher above House Wren above Gray Catbird above Brown Thrasher above Warbling Vireo above Tennessee Warbler above Nashville Warbler above Yellow Warbler above Magnolia Warbler above Palm Warbler above Common Yellowthroat above Wilson's Warbler above Baltimore Oriole above Scarlet Tanager above Rose-breasted Grosbeak above Indigo Bunting above

5 American Goldfinch above Chipping Sparrow above White-crowned Sparrow above White-throated Sparrow above Clay-colored Sparrow above Northern Parula above Pine Siskin inside Cerulean Warbler inside Warbler Species above Black-billed Cuckoo inside Yellow-bellied Sapsucker inside Red-bellied Woodpecker inside Red-headed Woodpecker inside Eastern Kingbird inside Eastern Phoebe inside (Alder/Willow) Flycatcher inside Empidonax-species inside Eastern Wood-Pewee inside Cliff Swallow inside Purple Martin inside White-breasted Nuthatch inside Red-breasted Nuthatch inside Brown Creeper inside Winter Wren inside Carolina Wren inside Marsh Wren inside Northern Mockingbird inside Wood Thrush inside Hermit Thrush inside Swainson's Thrush inside Gray-cheeked Thrush inside Thrush-species inside Veery inside Eastern Bluebird inside Golden-crowned Kinglet inside Ruby-crowned Kinglet inside American Pipit inside Cedar Waxwing inside Blue-headed Vireo inside Red-eyed Vireo inside Black and White Warbler inside Golden-winged Warbler inside Blue-winged Warbler inside Cape May Warbler inside Black-throated Green Warbler inside Yellow-rumped Warbler inside Black-throated Blue Warbler inside Blackburnian Warbler inside Chestnut-sided Warbler inside 5

6 6 Bay-breasted Warbler inside Blackpoll Warbler inside Prairie Warbler inside Northern Waterthrush inside Mourning Warbler inside Canada Warbler inside American Redstart inside Bobolink inside Eastern Meadowlark inside Brown-headed Cowbird inside Eastern Towhee inside Savannah Sparrow inside Vesper Sparrow inside Dark-eyed Junco inside American Tree Sparrow inside Field Sparrow inside Fox Sparrow inside Lincoln's Sparrow inside Pine Warbler inside Orchard Oriole inside Worm-eating Warbler inside Purple Finch inside Prothonotary Warbler inside Orange-crowned Warbler inside Hooded Warbler inside Yellow-breasted Chat inside Louisiana Waterthrush inside Wren-species inside Chimney Swift inside White-eyed Vireo inside Yellow-throated Vireo inside Philadelphia Vireo inside Yellow-bellied Flycatcher inside Olive-sided Flycatcher inside Cuckoo-species inside Vireo Species inside House Finch below Least Flycatcher below Blue-gray Gnatcatcher below Ovenbird below Swamp Sparrow below s above Number of Species inside Master Table A Comparison of 2014 and Results for All Species The total number (totals) of individuals for each species are grouped according to whether the 2014 total was above, inside or below the range of annual totals found in the Study.

7 7 There are 26 (24 in 2013) instances of the 2014 total exceeding all totals for that species in the Study and 5 (8 in 2013) instances of the 2014 total being less than any of the totals in the Study. In the two bottom rows of the table we see that the total of all birds recorded in the 2014 count (3514) (2323 in 2013) lies above the range of totals recorded in the Study (1686 to 3459). We also note that the total number (72) (74 in 2013) of all species recorded in the 2014 count lies within the range of species seen between 1993 and 1997 (60 to 77). For purposes of simplifying the discussion of these totals, the species of Master Table are split into those that are resident on the West Pier (Master Table ) and species that were probably transient on the West Pier during migration (Master Table ). Species resident on the West Pier The 2013 and 2014 results for Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Great-crested Flycatcher, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Baltimore Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird and American Goldfinch are presented in Master Table and shown below inside or outside of range 2014 inside or outside of range Species Red-bellied Woodpecker above inside Eastern Kingbird inside inside Great Crested Flycatcher above above House Wren above above Carolina Wren above below Gray Catbird above above Brown Thrasher above above Warbling Vireo above above Yellow Warbler above above Common Yellowthroat above above Baltimore Oriole above above Brown-headed Cowbird inside inside American Goldfinch below above Birds above above Species inside inside Master Table Resident Species Note Not all counted Not all counted Not all counted Not all counted

8 8 House Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Brown-headed Cowbird and American Goldfinch were very numerous. The large numbers of these birds made counting difficult and time consuming. To count them accurately would have interfered with the time required for studying the migrants. It was decided early in the count period of 2013, therefore, simply to note if these species were present (P). In 2014 these species were counted. This change in protocol is in part responsible for the substantial increases in the 2014 numbers over the 2013 values. Note that 9 (10 in 2013) of the 13 species tabulated here have totals exceeding those found in the Study. Below we distinguish between (1) birds whose large totals result primarily from the fact that they breed on or near the study area and were seen on many days, (2) species whose large totals result primarily from the fact that they were present on the West Pier in large numbers and (3) species whose numbers are comparable to those observed in the Study. Species whose large totals result from the fact that they were seen and/or heard on many days and reside on the West Pier Red-bellied Woodpecker: none were observed in 2014 (one or two pairs of this species bred on the West Pier in 2013). Great-crested Flycatcher: one or more of these birds were seen and/or heard on the West Pier starting on May 10 (May 20 in 2013), possibly a pair nested there. Brown Thrasher: one, two or possibly three pairs of these birds breed on the West Pier. It is not known if they are in the study area or south of it, but one or two birds were heard and/or seen on many days. This puts the total well above the only record in the period of 10 birds in Carolina Wren: only three birds were observed in 2014 (in 2013 one or two of these birds were seen or heard in the study area on many days). Warbling Vireo: three or four pairs of these birds breed in the study area and were on territory by May 8 in It would seem that there are more birds breeding on the West Pier than in the count periods. Common Yellowthroat: one or more of these birds breed in the study area. The total is slightly higher than those totals obtained in the Study. Species seen in very large numbers on the West Pier House Wren: substantially more birds were observed in 2014 than in any year of the Study. Gray Catbird: substantially more birds were observed in 2014 than in any year of the Study..

9 9 Cormorants north of the Sand Docks (Our most common west pier resident) - Edith Bacon Yellow Warbler: substantially more birds were observed in 2014 than in any year of the Study. Baltimore Oriole: substantially more birds were observed in 2014 than in any year of the Study. American Goldfinch: substantially more birds were observed in 2014 than in any year of the Study. The daily total numbers of individuals for the species listed above are consistent with their remaining to breed on the West Piers (See Master Table ). There is a small drop in numbers following their first appearance in May. Some careful counting would be required in future studies to determine which, if any, of these birds are transient in May and would not remain to breed on the West Pier. Species with numbers comparable to those observed in the Study Eastern Kingbird: the 2014 total is inside the range of totals. Brown-headed Cowbird: the 2014 total is inside the range of totals. Species transient on the West Pier Results for these species are presented in Master Table A few of the species may breed on the West Pier, but during our visits we saw no definite evidence that this was the case. The totals for 2014 are compared with means and medians of the totals in Master Table 4a The last two rows of the table depict total individuals and species. We see that the transient non-residents are, in 2014, present in numbers that are consistent with those of the Study.

10 10 There is no indication that the overall group of transients in migration are passing through our area in numbers reduced or increased from those found in the Study. In Figure (below) those species where the 2014 non-resident species total exceeds the maximum or is less than the minimum are shown. Ruby-throated Least Flycatcher Blue-gray Gnatcatcher max min Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Palm Warbler Wilson's Warbler Ovenbird Scarlet Tanager Chipping Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting House Finch 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Figure : Those species where the 2014 non-resident species total exceeds the maximum or is less than the minimum

11 11 4-Summary and discussion In Master Table all species counted in 2014 whose totals lay outside the range of totals for the period are presented. The changes in breeding bird numbers have been discussed above. Non-resident species counted in 2013 and 2014 whose totals lie outside the range of totals found in the Study are presented in Master Table 5a-2014 and shown below. Species Min Max 2013 vs vs Status Note Ruby-throated Hummingbird above above no change Least Flycatcher inside below Cliff Swallow above inside White-breasted Nuthatch above inside Wood Thrush above inside Blue-gray Gnatcatcher inside below Tennessee Warbler above above no change Orange-crowned Warbler above inside Nashville Warbler inside above Northern Parula inside above Magnolia Warbler inside above Yellow-rumped Warbler below inside Cape May Warbler below inside Black-throated Blue Warbler below inside Cerulean Warbler above inside Bay-breasted Warbler below inside Blackpoll Warbler above inside Palm Warbler inside above Ovenbird inside below Mourning Warbler above inside Wilson's Warbler inside above Scarlet Tanager above above no change Canada Warbler above inside Rose-breasted Grosbeak above above no change Indigo Bunting inside above House Finch below below no change Chipping Sparrow inside above Lincoln's Sparrow below inside Swamp Sparrow below below no change White-throated Sparrow inside above White-crowned Sparrow inside above Pine Siskin above inside Master Table 5a-2014 Species with s in 2013 and/or 2014 Outside the s Note that many of these instances of numbers below or above those counted in are not present in both years. Of those that are present in both years, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Tennessee Warbler, Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Swamp Sparrow differ slightly

12 12 from the numbers. The only departure from the numbers that seems robust at this point are the House Finch numbers which remained substantially below numbers in both 2013 and In Port Weller West Pier Migration Study 2013, I wrote, It would be of considerable interest to repeat the study in 2014 to see which of the changes detected in 2013 persist, in particular, whether or not the total numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers and House Finches remain well below the total numbers observed in the Study. As can be seen in Master Table 5a-2014, the number of Yellow-rumped Warblers observed in 2014 lies within the range of numbers observed in the Study. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Frank and Sandra Horvath The situation with regard to the House Finches, on the other hand, is quite different. Here, as in 2013, the numbers of House Finches are substantially lower in 2014 than in the Study. A total of only 10 birds were observed on the West Pier in 2014 (5 in 2013) compared with as many as 18 birds on a single day in the years 1993 to 1997 and a maximum total in May 1996 of 237 birds. Possible origins of this decline are: reduced numbers of House Finches in Niagara in 2014 compared with those in the period (Leckie 2007) and/or a change in House Finch spring movement patterns. (It is known that some House Finches in the north eastern part of the U.S. and on the Great Lakes move south for the winter months: The birds were certainly not breeding on the West Pier in any numbers between 1993 and They seemed to be in migration, along with Blue Jays and Grackles, and they were observed drifting north and/or south along the West Pier on many days during the Study. On May 25, 2014, a pair of House Finches was observed on the pier.

13 13 Of interest to birders are changes in warbler numbers over the years. The data on warblers are presented in Master Table and shown below. Species vs Range vs Range Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Golden-winged Warbler inside 0 inside Prothonotary Warbler inside 0 inside Hooded Warbler inside 0 inside Yellow-breasted Chat inside 0 inside Cape May Warbler inside 2 below Bay-breasted Warbler inside 3 below Black-throated Blue inside 11 below Warbler Black and White Warbler inside 10 inside Nashville Warbler above 6 inside Blackburnian Warbler inside 3 inside Ovenbird below 4 inside Northern Waterthrush inside 7 inside American Redstart inside 40 inside Pine Warbler inside 1 inside Chestnut-sided Warbler inside 24 inside Blue-winged Warbler inside 1 inside Magnolia Warbler above 40 inside Black-throated Green inside 13 inside Warbler Prairie Warbler inside 1 inside Palm Warbler above 60 inside Wilson's Warbler above 12 inside Northern Parula above 6 inside Tennessee Warbler above 9 above Orange-crowned Warbler inside 3 above Mourning Warbler above 3 above Cerulean Warbler inside 2 above Blackpoll Warbler inside 64 above Canada Warbler inside 6 above s(exclude YERU, inside 331 inside YEWA and COYE) Number of Species inside 24 above Yellow-rumped Warbler inside 139 below Yellow Warbler above 373 above Common Yellowthroat above 47 above Master Table Comparison of 2013 and 2014 and Results for Warblers

14 14 In Figure the 2014 warbler results are also compared with those of Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Palm Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Cerulean Warbler Black and White Warbler American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Ovenbird Worm-eating Warbler Northern Waterthrush Louisiana Waterthrush Mourning Warbler Commom Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson's Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat s(exclude YERU, Number of Species mean 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Figure : The 2014 warbler totals are compared with the mean totals of There are no warbler species for which the totals in May of 2013 and 2014 lie below the totals in the Study. There are two species of warbler whose 2013 and 2014 totals greatly exceed the totals. Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat both are common summer residents in Niagara. There are two species of warbler whose 2013 and/or 2014 total lies slightly above the range of totals. Mourning Warbler is an uncommon summer resident in Niagara, while Tennessee Warbler is a spring transient in Niagara.

15 15 5-Conclusions We observed a large increase from in the numbers of individuals of many of the species resident on the West Pier in both 2013 and As the study progresses we are seeing evidence that numbers of non-resident species in 2013 and 2014 are not drastically different from those seen in The non-resident birds of 2013 and 2014 whose totals exceeded, or were less than, the totals in are shown above in Master Table 5a Note that while there were many instances of numbers below or above the numbers in 2013 or 2014 separately, only 5 instances of this are present for both 2013 and Of these the only numbers that seem robust at this point are the House Finch numbers which remained substantially below numbers in both 2013 and At this point in our study, we really need to see the numbers for five years, in particular those for nonresident species, so as to compare means and medians twenty years apart and search for any significant changes. It would, therefore, be of interest to repeat the study in 2015, 2016 and Acknowledgements The author would like to thank the following individuals: Edith Bacon, Jean Hampson and Frank and Sandra Horvath for contributing photographs to the report; Carolyn Black for editing the report: David Brown for hosting the report on his Brock University Web Site: John Stevens for reading and commenting on an early draft of the report; the Canadian Coast Guard (in particular Captains Dave McGinnis and Blayne Morton) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority (in particular Karen Morgenweg) for assisting with this study on the piers. Blayne Morton (left, Captain) and Corey Oulton (right, Engineer) - John Black

16 16 Coast-guard vessel Griffon leaves canal - Edith Bacon 7-References Black, J.E. (1997). A 5 year study of bird migration at the Port Weller Piers located at the north end of the Welland Canal in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, May Brock Physics Report, PR Black, J.E. (1996). A Study of Bird Migration at the Port Weller Piers Located at the North End of the Welland Canal in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, May Black, J.E. (1995). A study of bird migration at the Port Weller Piers located at the north end of the Welland Canal in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, May Brock Physics Report, PR Black, J.E. (1994). A Study of Bird Migration at the Port Weller Piers located at the north end of the Welland Canal in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, May Black, J.E. (1993). A Study of Bird Migration at the Port Weller Piers and adjacent sites located at the north end of the Welland Canal in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, May Black, J.E. and Roy, K.J. (2010) Niagara Birds: a compendium of articles and species accounts of the birds of the Niagara Region in Ontario.