Overview
Project Name
Canadian Migration Monitoring Network
Access Level
By Request
Year started
2014
Year Ended
Ongoing
Dataset
Daily Migration Counts: McKellar Island Bird Observatory
About
Dataset summary
Counts from McKellar Island Bird Observatory (MIBO) of birds banded and observed during daily operations; plus 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 daily monitoring period
Season(s) and frequency
Daily in spring (May 1 - June 11) and fall (August 1 - October 31)
Geographic area covered
Located in Thunder Bay, northwestern Ontario (48.37, -89.22). Migrants at the site originate primarily from breeding range in Manitoba and Ontario, but isotopic studies indicate that a portion of individuals of some species come from Northwest Territories
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
Standard daily operations include daily banding using 20 nets (3 of them for raptors) and one ground trap. Passerine nets are opened 30 min before sunrise, and hawk nets an hour later; all are closed 5.5 hr after sunrise. Incidental observations during standard operation period are also recorded
Analysis methods
See Quick Links. Trends for ‘Regular Migrants’ at this site are based on counts from standardized banding alone, while trends for all other species are based on Daily Estimated Totals
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, the following notes had been recorded. Tree seedlings were planted in the netting area in 2014-16, then maintained at 3m height once they reached that size (2024). The habitat change prior to 2024 will have affected species composition and abundance, requiring caution in interpretation of long-term trends that include that period.
Partners
McKellar Island Bird Observatory
Citation
Birds Canada, Save Our Songbirds, and McKellar Island Bird Observatory. 2026. "Daily Migration Counts: McKellar Island Bird Observatory". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada. 10.71842/4py7-0d76
