Overview
Project Name
Canadian Migration Monitoring Network
Access Level
By Request
Year started
2003
Year Ended
Ongoing
Dataset
Daily Migration Counts: Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station
About
Dataset summary
Counts from Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS)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
Monitoring occurs daily in spring from April 1- June 9 and from August 5- November 12 in the fall
Geographic area covered
Located in Toronto, Ontario (43.63, -79.33). Migrants at the site originate primarily from breeding range in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec
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 since 2004) include banding using 20 nets (6 hr from ½ hr before sunrise), a fixed-route census of about an hour, and incidental observation during the 6-hr standard operations 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 observation.
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 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
Partners
Citation
Birds Canada and Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station. 2026. "Daily Migration Counts: Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada. 10.71842/khvs-dj86
