Canadian Migration Monitoring Network
By Request
2003
CMMN was launched in 1998 as an ongoing monitoring program. The first migration monitoring station in North America was LPBO, started in 1960. Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station was established in 2003 and began standardized migration monitoring in 2004.
This dataset contains daily estimated totals (DET) from the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station. DET is a standard protocol used by Canadian Migration Monitoring Network stations to estimate the total number of individuals of each species occurring at a site during migration.
Monitoring occurs daily in spring from April 1- June 9 and from August 5- November 12 in the fall
Located near Toronto, Ontario (43.3754, -79.1949). The count area is approximately 7.7 hectares.
Primary focus is landbirds (104 priority species). Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station also runs a ground trap operation for blackbirds and grackles; passive raptor mist nets using a decoy; shorebird mist net using playback; a waterfowl trap; Double-crested Cormorant chick banding (outside of count area) and a Larus gull project (on and off site).
To generate counts of migrating birds for use in long-term population monitoring, especially landbird species not monitored by current breeding or winter surveys; To carry out cooperative research projects on the ecology of migrating birds. Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station is dedicated to the understanding, protection and awareness of birds in Toronto.
Standardized captures and observations used to derive daily estimated total throughout migration window.
Combination of standardized daily captures, census, visible migration counts and other observations resulting in a daily estimated total for each species. The count period is 6 hours in duration with a 1 hour census. The station runs 15 standard nets and 5 non-standard nets.
Most stations produce some form of annual report for members.
Any disruption to standardized operations relevant to appropriate interpretation of analytical results is noted in a regularly-updated section of the station protocol. As of 2025, the following alerts have been recorded. Due to rapid habitat change and adjustments of protocol in early years, population trends are most meaningful from 2016 onward. Pandemic restrictions caused suspension of operations in spring 2020 and reduced coverage in 2021 and 2022.
Birds Canada, Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station. 2025. "CMMN Daily Estimated Totals: Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada. 10.71842/khvs-dj86
