UPCOMING EVENTS  from the Nova Scotia Bird Society    Field trips are open to non-members as well as members. Feel free to phone or E-mail the field trip leader or contact person ahead of time to obtain further information, directions or restrictions (e.g. dogs are not normally allowed on field trips). The area code for Nova Scotia is 902. NSMNH = The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax .   Ideas and suggestions for future trips are welcome. You do not need to be an expert to lead a field trip, and the trip does not need to last all day. You just need to share your favourite birding spots. Any questions, comments or suggestions, as well as all field trip reports should be directed to The Events Editor, Suzanne Borkowski 445-2922. E-mail: suzanneborkowski@yahoo.ca       Sat 14 Mar 2009 - North Sydney and Area Leader: Maureen Cameron-MacMillan 727-2733 E-mail: maureen_cameron@excite.com Meet at 1:00 p.m. at the duck pond across from the Clearwater Fish Plant, 139 Queen Street, North Sydney . At our meeting place we'll look for Mallards, American Black Ducks and gulls, and hopefully an "odd duck" or two. We'll then work our way north along the harbour, with stops at the Lobster Pound restaurant parking lot on Queen Street, Archibald Park on Commercial Street, and Indian Head Beach and the Purves Street Look-off to check out the harbour birds. Storm date: 21 March.   Sat 14 Mar 2009 – Beginning Birder's Trip - Halifax Leaders: Bonnie Carmichael 477-9945   bonniecarmichael@hotmail.com and Gail Bruhm gcbruhm@ns.sympatico.ca Pre-Registration is Necessary! Meet at 10:00am in the parking lot of the Frog Pond on Purcell's Cove Road . The unmarked parking lot is on the left (east) side of the road if you're coming from the Rotary in Halifax ; just after Burns Drive . Bring binoculars, a field guide if you have one, a snack and sturdy footwear. Trip will last one to two hours.   Sat 21 Mar 2009 - Along the Fundy Shore Leader: Wayne Neily 765-2455 E-mail: neilyornis@hotmail.com Focusing on the winter birds of the Bay of Fundy and the ecozones from it to the Annapolis Valley ; this will be a joint trip with the Nova Scotia Bird Society, the Blomidon Naturalists and the Annapolis Field Naturalists. Meet at 9:00 am in Aylesford,  just on the  south side of Exit 16 on Hwy #101. We'll visit the shore at Morden, Margaretsville, Port George, and perhaps Port Lorne and Hampton, before heading back into the Valley to check some sites on the way to Annapolis Royal . Dress warmly with layers ; the Fundy shore can be   cold and windy at that time of year, and bring a lunch. Pre-Registration is encouraged but not essential.   Thu 26 Mar 2009 – Regular Meeting NSMNH, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax , Nova Scotia , 7:30 p.m. Why Bird Migration in Nova Scotia is so Interesting . Guest Speaker: Dr. Ian McLaren will give an analysis of the roles of geography, navigational errors, and weather patterns in bringing us such a wide variety of birds, including vagrants.   Sat 28 Mar 2009 – Baccaro & Blanche Peninsula Leader: Donna Ensor 875-4269 E-mail: smokeytow@yahoo.ca Early spring birding with Donna. Rarities have shown up here quite often at this time of year. Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot at exit 28 off Hwy #103 (Port Clyde). Dress warmly and bring a lunch. No rain date.   Sat 04 Apr 2009 – Martinique Beach Leader: Ian McLaren 429-7024 E-mail: iamclar@dal.ca Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Scotiabank parking lot, Bridge Plaza , Dartmouth . Look for early migrants as well as possible rarities. Bring a lunch. No rain date.   Wed 08 Apr 2009 - Cape Breton Naturalists' Meeting 7:30 pm at the Lyceum, 225 George Street , Sydney Speaker: Becky Stewart, Bird Studies Canada Becky will give a talk on the Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas project, a scientifically designed five-year field project to assess the status, distribution and abundance of bird species that breed within the three Maritime Provinces .   Sat 11 Apr 2009 - Baddeck and St. Ann 's Area Leader: Bethsheila Kent 295-1749 E-mail: floydo@ns.sympatico.ca Meet at 9:00 am at 4296 Highway 105 (just west of Exit 11 to the Cabot Trail) We will carpool from our meeting place and scour the St. Ann 's area for birding hotspots. Alcids, scoters, and teal are among the sights we can expect to see. Bring a lunch, and if weather permits, we will enjoy it on the trail. No rain date.   Thu 23 Apr 2009 – Regular Meeting NSMNH, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax , Nova Scotia , 7:30 p.m. Journey to the Most Remote Place on Earth: Magnificent Migrations of the Greater Shearwater – Guest Speaker: Dr. Rob Ronconi Greater Shearwaters are among the most abundant seabirds in the North Atlantic summer, yet we know very little about them. Since 2005, the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station has been studying shearwaters in the Bay of Fundy where they spend their winter (our summer) fattening up for long distance migrations. Dr. Ronconi will be presenting on the trials and tribulations of working with these magnificent seabirds. Highlights include the first ever deployments of satellite tags on Greater Shearwaters which documented their habitat use in the Maritimes and long distance migrations to Tristan da Cunha . From a birds-eye view, Dr. Ronconi will explore the ecological diversity of our oceans and the conservation challenges that face our seabirds. Sat 25 April 2009 – Beginning Birders Trip ( Halifax ) Leaders: Bonnie Carmichael 477-9945   bonniecarmichael@hotmail.com and Gail Bruhm gcbruhm@ns.sympatico.ca Pre-Registration is Necessary! Meet at 10:00am in the parking lot of the Frog Pond on Purcell's Cove Road . The unmarked parking lot is on the left (east) side of the road if you're coming from the Rotary in Halifax ; just after Burns Drive . Bring binoculars, a field guide if you have one, a snack and sturdy footwear. Trip will last one to two hours.   Sat 25 April 2009 – Beginning Birders' Field Trip ( Annapolis Valley ) Leader: Wayne Neily 765-2455 E-mail: neilyornis@hotmail.com Pre-Registration is Necessary! Meet at 8:00 am at the Tim Hortons in Greenwood . Bring binoculars, a field guide if you have one, sturdy footwear and a snack. No rain date.   S un 26 Apr 2009 – Wolfville Area Leader: Jim Wolford 542-9204 E-mail: jimwolford@eastlink.ca This will be a joint trip with the Blomidon Naturalists Society, pond hopping for ducks and early migrants. Possibly there will be a visit to Wolfville Ridge first for Barred Owls, before the pond-hopping. Meet at the town wharf off the east end of Front Street in Wolfville at 10:00 a.m. Dress warmly and bring a lunch. No rain date.   Sat 02 May 2009 – Cape Sable Island Leader: Murray Newell 745-3340 E-mail: dowitcher@eastlink.ca Meet at Tim Horton's in Barrington Passage at 7:45 a.m. We will bird the Cape Sable Island hot spots for spring migrants. Bring waterproof footwear and a lunch. No rain date.   Sat 09 May 2009 – Spring Migration Counts Contact Hans Toom 868-1862 htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca or your Regional Coordinator to participate.   Fri 15 May – Mon 18 May 2009 – Bon Portage Island Leader: Claire Diggins 825-6152 E-Mail: claire_diggins@hotmail.com Pre-Registration is Necessary! Depart 6:00 p.m. on Friday from the Prospect Point Wharf in Shag Harbour , Shelburne County . Bring food, drinking water, warm clothing, footwear for rough (beach cobble) and wet terrain, a flashlight, mattress sheet and a sleeping bag. Carry gear in waterproof bags or containers. Field guides are available on the island as are cooking pots, utensils and dishes. There is a charge of $45.00 for three nights accommodation for NSBS members plus a donation for the boat trip. Please Note: If getting on or off the island cannot be done safely, the trip will be moved to Brier Island .   Sat 16 May 2008 – Beginning Birders' Field Trip – ( Halifax ) Leader: Suzanne Borkowski 445-2922 E-mail: suzanneborkowski@yahoo.ca Pre-registration is Necessary! Meet at  10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Jerry Lawrence Prov Park (formerly Lewis Lake Prov. Park off Hwy #3 between exits #4 and #5. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them, a snack, and sturdy footwear.  We'll spend a couple of hours identifying birds in and around the Park. No rain date.   Mon 18 May 2009 – Historic Hants County Leader: Suzanne Borkowski 445-2922 E-mail: suzanneborkowski@yahoo.ca Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Mount Uniacke House. Take exit #3 off Hwy #101 and drive approx. 8 km along rte #1 towards Windsor . Uniacke House is on your left. The main gate will be locked, but the 2 nd gate (coming from Halifax ) will be open. We'll start by exploring some of the grounds at Mt. Uniacke then continue along back-country roads through Hants County . Bring a lunch to be enjoyed at Smiley Park . No rain date.   Wed 20 May 2009 – The Fred Dobson Warbler Walk Leader: Joan Waldron 477-4273 E-mail: waldrojo@ns.sympatico.ca Meet at 6:00 a.m. in the “Park and Ride” lot at the junction of Prospect Road (Rte #333) and St. Margaret's Bay Road (Rte #3) near exit #2 on Hwy #103. Duration: 3 hours. Waterproof footwear and fly repellent are recommended.   Sat 23 May 2009 – Port L'Hebert Leaders: Dorothy Poole 354-4844 E-mail: dpoolex@ns.sympatico.ca and Clyde Stoddart 745-2105. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Chef's Table (formerly the Grub ‘n' Grog Restaurant) on Hwy #103 at Sable River . We'll explore the Sable River areas as well as the areas in and around Port L'Hebert. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a lunch. No rain date.   Sun 24 May 2009 – Conquerall Mills Leader: James Hirtle 766-4642 E-mail: jrhbirder@hotmail.com Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the dam area of Petite Riviere, near the intersection of Conquerall Mills and the Crousetown Road . Directions: Turn left off Hwy #103 at the sign for Conquerall Mills just past exit #14. Drive 3.5 km along this road. The dam will be on your left. We'll be exploring Fitch Road and Dagley Road along Publicover Lake , as well as Brown Branch Brook, Mount Pleasant , and Hebb Mills. In the afternoon we can check out Station Road , Fauxburg, Long Hill and Oakland . Bring a lunch, sturdy footwear, socks that can be pulled up over pantlegs (to discourage ticks) and sunblock. Rain date: Sun 31 May.   Sat 30 - Sun 31 May 2009 – Out-of-Area Meeting/Atlas Workshop Please note: There will be no meeting of the Bird Society at the Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 28 th . Speakers: Becky Stewart (Atlas Coordinator), Patrick Kelly (Region 16) and Paul Gould (Region 17) This year's Out-of-Area Meeting/Atlas Workshop will be held at the Mountain Gap Inn near Digby and will promote Region 16: Annapolis Valley-Digby Neck, and Region 17: Southwest Shore . The meeting will start at 7:30 pm in the Annapolise Room, followed by an owl prowl. Sunday morning, 6:00 am , there will be a point count demonstration, followed by breakfast. Field trips will be led by Pat Kelly and Paul Gould. To book your room for Saturday night, go to: http://www.mountaingapinn.ca and click on “Around the Inn”. This map will show you what each of the rooms is like by clicking on any rooftop. Choose from #1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 24,25,26,27 ($100.00 per room) or #41, 42, 43 ($90.00 per room). This meeting/workshop is open to everyone!   Sat 30 May 2009 – Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct Leader: Gary Hartlen 354-7250 E-mail: garych@eastlink.ca and Peter Davies 354-5389 E-mail: p.davies@ns.sympatico.ca Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Seaside Adjunct. Directions: Take Hwy #103 to exit #22 (unmarked) and drive approx 6 km down the St. Catherine's River Road to the park. There are washroom facilities on site. We will be walking from the parking lot to the ocean where Piping Plovers will be nesting. Expect warbler species in full breeding plumage and nesting shorebirds on the trail to the headland. Wear waterproof footwear, long pants (to discourage ticks) and bring a lunch. No rain date.   Sat 30 May 2009 : Lake Ainslie field trip Leader: Barrie Fraser (258-2364) Meet at 1:00 pm , Kirkwood Art Studio, East Lake Ainslie (Route 395). This afternoon field trip will include some lakeshore and forest birding, and a spectacular look at an eagle's nest, and possibly even a visit to the Kenlock Dump. This trip will involve some light hiking. Pack a lunch, as we will be stopping for a picnic on the trail.   Sun 31 May – 2009 – Beginning Birders' Field Trip ( Truro ) Leader: Ross Hall 893-9665 E-mail: ross.hall@ns.sympatico.ca Meet at 8:30 am at the Bible Hill graveyard/ start of trail at end of Warren Drive . We'll bird the Bible Hill Trail and Dykeland. Bring binoculars, field guide if you have one, and snacks. Trip will end at 11:30 am . No rain date.   Sat 06 June 2009 - Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary Leader: Kathleen Spicer 392-2815 E-mail: kbspicer@ns.sympatico.ca Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the A.P.B.S. parking lot. Take exit #3 from Hwy #104 at the Wandlyn Inn and proceed a few kilometers toward Nappan. Watch for the entrance on the left. Wear appropriate footwear for wet conditions and bring insect repellent. No rain date.   Sat 06 June 2009 – Beginning Birders Field Trip (Middle Musquodoboit) Leader: Verna Higgins 384-2286 E-mail: vjhiggins@xplornet.com Meet at 9:00 am in the Natural Resources Education Centre parking lot (off Hwy 224 near Middle Musquodoboit) for a 2 to 3 hour hike in the Centre woodlot to see and hear late migrant and resident songbirds. No rain date.   Sat 13 June 2009 - Birding in Grand River and Loch Lomond Leader: Shirley Halliday (562-5698) Meet at 7:30 am at 209 Grand River Road, East Grand River . A wonderful variety of habitats will be explored, including forest, lakeside, field and seashore. Lunch will follow, so please contact Shirley if you wish to attend. Storm date: June 20.   Sat 13 June 2009 – Herbert River Trail Leader: Patrick Kelly 494-3294 (w) 472-2322 (h) patrick.kelly@dal.ca This easy walk follows the rail bed of the former train line that ran from Windsor to Truro via Kennetcook. It runs along the Herbert River for a good part of its length. Meet at the Newport Rink parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Take Exit 5 from Highway 101 and follow Highway 14 east for about 10 km to the village of Brooklyn . At the cenotaph, keep left and follow Highway 14 north for just under 1 km. At the intersection (Petro Canada station) Highway 14 turns right. Continue straight on Highway 215 (Note the YIELD sign. you do NOT have the right of way!). The rink is on the right as soon as you exit the intersection. Bring insect repellent. We should be done by lunchtime. Rain date Sun 14 June.   Sat 13 June – Sun 14 June 2009 – Nature Nova Scotia AGM The 2009 Annual General Meeting will be held at the Interpretive Centre of the Grand Pre National Historic Site. Please visit their website for complete program details. http://www.naturens.ca/     Sat 20 June 2009 – Shubenacadie Leader: Rob Woods 261-2122 E-mail: rrtwoods@yahoo.com Pre-Registration is Necessary! Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the back parking lot of the Milford Community Centre. Take exit #9 off Hwy #102 to Milford . Turn right at the T intersection. Take next right and drive past the fire hall to the Community Centre's back parking lot. We will spend the first hour walking the trails at the centre. Facilities are unavailable on the route after the first hour or so.   Sat 27 June 2009 – Beginning Birders Workshop and Field Trip – Parrsboro Leader: Joan Czapalay E-mail: joancz@ns.sympatico.ca or call 1-866-856-DINO Pre-Registration is Necessary! The “Birding for Beginners” workshop will run from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Fundy Museum in Parrsboro. A field trip to practise your new skills will be held from 1:30 – 4:00 pm . All are welcome, but pre-registration is necessary. Sun 28 June 2009 – Beginning Birders Workshop and Field Trip – Port Greville Leader: Joan Czapalay E-mail: joancz@ns.sympatico.ca or call 1-902-348-2030 Pre-Registration is Necessary! This “Birding for Beginners” Workshop will run from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Age of Sail Museum in Port Greville. A field trip to practise your new skills will be held from 1:30 to 4:00 pm . All are welcome, but pre-registration is necessary.   Sat 18 Jul 2009 – Wallace Bay Leader: Paul MacDonald 627-2568 E-mail: paulrita2001@yahoo.com Meet at the Wallace Wharf at 8:30 a.m. Primary points of interest are the impoundments at the Wallace Bay National Wildlife Area. The morning will consist of a three-hour walk along a woodland trail, so come prepared with sturdy footwear, water, and a lunch. No rain date.   Sat 18 July 2008-  Beginning Birders Trip - Birds of Martinique Beach Prov Park Leader: Sue Abbott 222-2880 E-mail: sabbott@bsc-eoc.org Limited registration.  Pre-registration required .  Meet at 10:00 am at the farthest parking lot (boardwalk#8) along the Martinique Beach Provincial Park road.   If you love the beach and would like to improve your ability to identify the songs and calls of beach birds, join Bird Studies Canada on this 2-hour walk focusing on the fascinating and often secretive birds that breed in beach, dune, and salt marsh habitat.  We will also observe Piping Plovers from a safe distance, and learn about why they are endangered, what is being done to recover their population at Martinique and across Nova Scotia , and how you can help.  Contact Sue Abbott for more information.  No rain date.