We do a lot of activities here at the Macphail Woods concerning songbirds and the role they play in forest habitats. This includes yearly breeding bird surveys, owl walks, bird banding program, as well as giving general birdwatching tours. In previous seasons, we have located and monitored such bird nests such as woodpeckers, hummingbird's and thrush's to name a few.

Birding Checklists

Checklist to the Birds of Prince Edward Island

Categorized listing of all bird species recorded on PEI.

Macphail Woods Birding Checklist

Field checklist for the Macphail Woods. A complete list of bird species that have been recorded on the Macphail Woods. Species that nest on the property are indicated as well as links to very detailed information on each individual species including extensive identification and life history information as well as access to BBS Maps and CBC Maps for each species.

Woodpeckers of PEI

Woodpeckers play an important role in forested habitats. This is an in-depth guide to the nine species of woodpeckers that have been found on PEI.

Macphail Woods Winter Checklist

The trails of the area are a great spot for snowshoeing and skiers during the winter and its a good way to see the birds of winter. Chickadees and nuthatches are common and will come close to investigate. Ravens put on spectacular aerial displays. Following grouse tracks, seeing what they are up to. Winter birding can be fun and the trails offer many opportunities.

Purple Finch.

Birding Reports and Articles

Article on Songbird Decline by Gary Schneider

The temptation to point the finger at people in the tropics cutting down forests, often for their very survival, should be tempered until we in the wealthy northern breeding grounds look after our own backyards. If we can not afford to treat our ecosystems with respect, who can?

Technical Report: Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship 2004 at the MacPhail Wood's Ecological Forestry Project - by Donna Martin

This is the second year of a proposed 5 year co-operative study set up to collect long term data on avian productivity and survivorship on the MacPhail Wood's Property. The objectives of this study is to provide annual indices and estimates of adult population size, productivity, adult survivorship and recruitment into the adult population for selective species found within this study area, along with increasing conservation awareness through presentations and volunteer participation.

Technical Report: Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship 2006 at the MacPhail Wood's Ecological Forestry Project - by Dwaine Oakley

In summary the project was successful in obtaining another field seasons worth of breeding bird data for the Macphail MAPS study area. The information collected in this study area will help give researches baseline data for breeding birds in a fragmented landscape like the Island.

Technical Report: Avian Surveys of the Sir Andrew Macphail Woodlot at Orwell, PEI: 1993 to 1995 - by Scott Makepeace.

This paper is a detailed look at the observations of avian breeding activites at the Macphail Woodlot. It covers a period of three years, 1993 through to 1995.

Peibirders -- Avifauna Reports - Rarities and Seasonal Observations

This Listserv or Email discussion list, is designed to facilitate communications in regards to the observations of rare bird species on PEI as well as document seasonal and migration reports of sightings on PEI. Hosted by the University of Prince Edward Island.

Wildlife Enhancement Sheets

ECO-PEI - Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project a member of the Island Sustainable Forest Partnership Cooperative with assistance from Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service and the Model Forest Program have put together a series of Wildlife enhancement sheets on Prince Edward Island.

• Bald Eagle
• Brown Creeper
• Northern Goshwak
• Ruffed Grouse
• Saw-Whet Owl
• Woodcock
• Red-tailed Hawk
• The Raven
• Attracting Birds in Winter

Monitoring Programs

If you are interested in using your birdwatching skills, here is some useful sites for monitoring programs that anyone can be part of.

• The Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas
• The Atlantic Canada Nocturnal Owl Survey Bird Studies Canada
• Project Feeder Watch
• Christmas Bird Counts
• The Great Backyard Bird Count
• Migration of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

Yellow-bellied sapsucker.

Identification

Here is some useful sites for birding identification information.

• Birds of the Island Prince Edward Island Government Page
• Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
• Patuxent--Tools for Learning About Birds
• Warbler Species Accounts
• Birds of Nova Scotia
• Identification of Eastern US songbirds by Color