Overview
Project Name
Canadian Migration Monitoring Network
Access Level
By Request
Year started
1994
Year Ended
Ongoing
Dataset
Daily Migration Counts: Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory
About
Dataset summary
Counts from Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory (VLBO) of birds banded and counted during standardized operations, and a composite Daily Estimated Total (DET), the best estimate for each species of unduplicated number of individuals detected within the official count area during the standard operation period.
Season(s) and frequency
Fall monitoring occurs between August 1st and October 15.
Geographic area covered
Located in south central British Columbia, south of Kelowna (49.3101, -119.5451). Migrants at the site originate primarily from breeding range in British Columbia, eastern Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska
Primary species covered
Captures are primarily small passerines, but all species observed are recorded
Goals
To conduct standardized daily migration season counts and collect ancillary data on migration ecology for use in long-term biological and population monitoring of Canada’s bird species
Methods
Sampling Design
Daily capture and observation during migration seasons to generate species-specific daily totals of birds detected within each study site
Field methods
Daily operations (standardized in 2006) include 6.5 hours of daily coverage, with 14 nets operated 6 hr (from half-hour before sunrise), a fixed-route census lasting about 1.5 hr, and incidental observations during the standard operation period
Analysis methods
See Quick Links. Population trends for ‘Regular Migrants’ at this site are based on counts from standardized methods only (numbers banded and recorded on census), while trends for all other species are based on Daily Estimated Totals that include incidental observations
Advice
Any disruption to standardized operations relevant to appropriate interpretation of analytical results is noted in a regularly-updated section of the station protocol (https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/cmmn-protocols). As of 2025, only alert reported is that the station was moved to its present site in 1998
Partners
Citation
Birds Canada and Vaseux Lake Migration Monitoring Station. 2026. "Daily Migration Counts: Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada. 10.71842/3jnm-ft48
