Goals and mission
The mission of the Tadoussac Bird Observatory (OOT) is to collect data on migratory bird populations, with a particular focus on boreal species, in order to assess their long-term population trends.
To achieve this, several rigorous scientific methods are used:
- Visual surveys, conducted according to a standardized protocol, provide reliable data on bird population trends in northeastern North America.
- Bird banding, which involves temporarily capturing birds to collect a wide range of information such as age, sex, physical condition, fat reserves, and signs of disease.
- Although recaptures are relatively rare, they offer valuable insights into individual longevity and migration strategies.
- Tracking with transmitters, made possible through scientific capture, allows for detailed documentation of the migratory routes and stopover sites used by bird species in Quebec.
In addition to research, the OOT is committed to training the next generation of ornithologists and raising public awareness about bird migration, the ecology of the boreal forest, and the conservation of the bird species that depend on it.
Through a wide range of activities accessible to all audiences, our organization is dedicated to sharing scientific knowledge in a clear, engaging, and educational way.
TBO: a key member across monitoring networks
TBO is a key member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN-RCSM), overseen by Birds Canada, the Hawk Migration Association, and the Équipe de rétablissement des oiseaux de proie du Québec (ÉROP).
TBO has been also acknowledged as a key partner in the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) program, managed by Nature Québec et Birds Canada, and in the North America Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI). Finally, the observatory is an associated member of QuébecOiseaux and project Owlnet.
Three monitoring sites
Our research activities are primarily conducted in the spring and fall, during the key periods of bird migration. These efforts take place in two highly strategic locations, recognized for their ecological significance and ornithological richness.
- The first location is located on the Haute-Côte-Nord, specifically on the Tadoussac dunes and in Les Bergeronnes area. The north shore of the St. Lawrence River is world-renowned for its exceptional spring migrations of warblers, and for finches and raptors in the fall.
- The second location lies within the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, a protected area created and managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada, less than an hour from the city of Québec. It is recognized as an important migratory stopover for thousands of birds.
Both locations are internationally renowned for the abundance and diversity of bird species observed during migration, as well as for their spectacular views of northern landscapes and migratory flyways.
Tadoussac : A migratory bird concentration site
The St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf have long been recognized for their influence on bird migratory behavior, especially during the fall migration.
On the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, east of Tadoussac, many diurnal raptors and songbirds migrating from northern Québec and Labrador avoid the risky crossing of the Gulf. Instead, they follow the north shoreline, using it as a natural migratory corridor.
This phenomenon is precisely what makes the location of OOT’s monitoring sites so strategic. It allows researchers to study migratory bird populations as they concentrate along the coastline, in a flyway that extends all the way to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, just east of Québec City.
This unique geographical context provides exceptional conditions for long-term migration monitoring, scientific research, and bird observation.
“The Côte-Nord, the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Québec, isn’t a world-famous birding spot, but it should be.” Scott Weidensaul – A World on the Wing
Timeline
1990
October 20: 350 migrating birds of prey are counted from the Dunes of Tadoussac in one hour by Yvan Duchesne.
1991
Jacques Ibarzabal and Adalbert Bouchard confirmed the presence of a migration corridor for raptors in the bay du Moulin-à-Baude, Tadoussac.
1992
First systematic visual surveys: a total of 7000 raptors are counted during the season.
1993
Official start of daily raptor standardized counts for the entire migration period (August to November)
1995
Beginning of songbird monitoring
1996
Tadoussac Bird Observatory becomes the research department of Explos-Nature Corporation. Jacques Ibarzabal is the founding director. Beginning of the Boreal and Saw-whet owl monitoring program.
2001
Beginning of the Black-backed and American three-toed woodpeckers monitoring program. The project spanned over five years and lead to a scientific publication.
2003
Creation and implementation of a scientific steering committee, a sponsorship committee, and Le Fonds des Amis de l’OOT.
2007
Beginning of the boreal songbird monitoring program
2009
First edition of Côte-Nord Migratory Bird Festival and beginning of the monitoring for reverse spring migration in neotropical birds.
2013
TBO’s 20th anniversary is celebrated during the 5th edition of the Côte-Nord Migratory Bird Festival. A memorial plaque honoring Yvan Duchesne is revealed and installed at the belvedere used for visual surveys.
2015
Beginning of the research monitoring and outreach program at Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area
2016
Re-establishment of the Jeunes Explos birding camps for youth.
2017
Beginning of the spring migration monitoring of neotropical birds at Maison de la Mer, in Bergeronnes
2023
Beginning of the spring migration monitoring program at Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area, and beginning of the aerial insectivore and nesting bird survey in the summer
