PNRS Introduction
What is the Prairie Nest Records Scheme (PNRS)?
The Prairie Nest Records Scheme (PNRS) is essentially, a collection of cards, each detailing one or more visits to an occupied bird's nest, a nest under active construction, or an active nesting colony in the Prairies, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut. The majority of cards are submitted by field volunteers who find nests and record the relevant data.
Where are the records collected?
The records are collected throughout the Prairies, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
How is the data used?
Data collected, especially from nests that have been visited multiple times, have tremendous potential for monitoring bird populations, and the impact of human activities on birds.
As each year progresses and additional data is recorded, the precision with which the PNRS can detect changes in the distribution, productivity, numbers and breeding biology of the provinces' and territories' breeding birds increases.
How can I participate?
Taking part in the PNRS is as simple as ONE, TWO, THREE:
1. Cards area available free from the PNRS for use within your scheme.
In Alberta:
Nature Alberta
Phone: (780)-427-8124
E-mail: pnrs@fanweb.ca
In Saskatchewan:
Royal Saskatchewan Museum
Phone: (306) 787-2859
In Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut:
Manitoba Museum
(204) 988-0659
2. Complete one card per nesting attempt (following the code for birding ethics). Follow the instructions for filling in the cards and refer to the hand pocket-sized "Coding Card"as a reminder of the codes required.
3. Either mail your cards or enter them on line
Mail to:
Nature Alberta
11759 - Groat Road
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T5M 3K6
Are the cards hard to use?
The cards have been redesigned so that new data can be quickly and easily captured on computer. The new cards ask for the same information as the old cards, but using a carefully selected set of codes.
Your questions answered (FAQ)
1. Why did the cards have to change?
The old cards contain a wealth of valuable information but it can be difficult to access or analyze if entered as is. For example, in many cases similar situations are described using different terms ("female on nest" vs "female incubating" or "trees and shrubs" vs "Aspen and Chokecherry").
The new cards have codes to cover virtually every situation and, once familiar with these codes, you will be able to fill out a card rapidly, the data can be entered quickly, and the data will be more manageable and accessible which will mean your efforts will have a better chance of resulting in conservation action.
2. Do I record any nest?
No. The PNRS needs records of "actively used" nests, i.e. nests that contain eggs or nestlings, or nests under active construction. Where a nest was abandoned or destroyed some time before being found by the observer, it is impossible to estimate accurately when construction or egg-laying began, or how many eggs the nest originally contained.
3. When should I start looking for nests?
You should keep your eyes open throughout the year as birds like Rock Doves, certain finches and House Sparrows have extended nesting periods. Some species like Great Horned Owls start nesting in February, and several species start to nest in March or April.
The greatest nesting activity will be in May, June and July. It is always tempting to reduce one's searching effort after July, but some species continue to nest until September or even later, though their song output will have dwindled. Some species have second and even third broods before winter sets in.
They often nest in previous nests or very close to them. Because clutch size, parasitism rates and nesting success may be quite different for late nests, it is important for the PNRS to receive records of such nests every year. So please do try to see the season through!
4. How many visits should I make?
Preferably more than one visit to each nest, because two checks, even just a day apart, provide much more useful information than a single visit. From two visits, it is possible to calculate a survival rate for the nest or contents (for example: the nest survived 5 days; two out of three nestlings in another nest survived 4 days, etc.).
Enough visits to record the date of the last egg laid and the beginning of hatching, in most cases provide an incubation period. Multiple visits are usually needed to determine the completed clutch size and to estimate the laying date. It is precisely this sort of information that the PNRS needs in order to monitor the success rates of nests each year and obtain breeding biology information.
So, cards with two or more visits are particularly valuable to the Scheme. However, even if you are only able to visit the nest once, cards with a single visit can provide useful information on distribution and habitat, especially for poorly known species.
Moving to the other extreme, it is neither necessary nor desirable to inspect nests daily or more than once per day -- many species are sensitive to disturbance. A few well-planned visits can provide all the information required. Ideally these would be: (Download Handbook for Full Instructions)
5. Does the PNRS want records of birds in my garden?
Yes! The PNRS needs Nest Record Cards from all habitats. We are especially keen to receive records from natural areas, but we need good numbers from towns and suburbia as well. Nest Records are needed anywhere birds nest, from shores to hilltops!
6. What about nest-boxes?
Yes! We want nest-box records too - they are often the easiest way to obtain accurate records of the nesting activities of some species (e.g., Mountain Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, House Wren).
Not only are nest-boxes becoming increasingly important for these species (and others like Wood Duck, American Kestrel), but also the PNRS can compare nesting success between birds using nest-boxes and those using natural sites.
7. What about colonies?
Although we welcome information on colonies, it is important to remember that, unless extreme care is taken, human intrusion can lead to possibly damaging disturbance at colonies of any species.
Waterbirds such as cormorants, herons, pelicans, gulls, and terns are especially vulnerable, as disturbance can lead to predation by gulls and crows, or young getting lost from their nests. Please avoid entering these colonies if possible -- if you must, stick to the periphery of the colony as much as possible, and make each visit brief. When possible, try to view the nests from a distance.
If you are able to visit a colony multiple times and keep track of individual nests, we would like you to complete a card for each nest, or to make a table detailing the contents of each nest on each visit.
We do not have a special card for this, but we would welcome the information in any form. You can use a standard card to record the details of location and habitat.
If you are only able to visit a colony once, or if you cannot keep track of individual nests, you can provide a summary of the total number of nests in the colony and the contents of any you were able to inspect at each visit (e.g., 150 nests of which 34 inspected; 20 nests with 3 eggs, 10 nests with 2 eggs, 4 nests with 2 eggs and 1 young). You can write this information on one of the comment sections of the card or on a separate paper.
8. What about rare species?
Recording the nests of rare species demands judgment and particular caution. If the species is being monitored and protected it may be necessary to obtain permission to examine its nest.
Detailed information from the nests of rare species, if carefully and prudently obtained, can be of special significance, and may contribute to the species' protection. If you are concerned about reporting a particular nest, please feel free to contact us to discuss it.
9. Which species and regions are of particular interests?
The PNRS would like to monitor the annual breeding performance of all of prairie and northern breeding birds, so the records of any species, anywhere in the prairie provinces or two territories, are valuable, especially if the record has multiple visits.
Like the canary in the mine shaft, changes in the nesting success of even common species such as American Robin, Chipping Sparrow or Tree Swallow can serve as early warning of pending environmental problems. Of course, not all species will respond the same way, so we are keen to monitor as many species as possible.
For this reason, we are particularly eager to receive records of uncommon species, species whose nests are infrequently reported, or species whose breeding ranges are restricted.
Tables of the numbers of nests reported from each species throughout the provinces and territories each year will be given in the PNRS annual report. These highlight the species and areas for which we particularly would like more data.
10.Does the PNRS want historical records?
Yes! All records of nests are valuable to the PNRS. Historical nest records serve to point out changes in breeding populations and distributions, when compared with current records.
11.How does the PNRS use Nest Record Cards?
The PNRS uses the cards to study breeding biology, and monitor distributional changes, and nesting success of birds in different habitats and regions and through time.
Records are made available to those engaged in serious ornithological studies, both professional and amateur. The data will be entered into computer databases to ensure that they can be used as effectively and efficiently as possible. Your efforts will be used to help conserve birds.
Nest recorder's code of conduct
It is essential to minimize disturbance at nests for both ethical and scientific reasons. The basic principle is that observations should not jeopardize the safety of the nest. If due care is taken by an observer, the chance of accidental damage can be virtually eliminated.
Each observer must exercise his or her responsibility, always putting the bird's interests first if a visit might endanger the nest. This applies with redoubled force where rare species are involved. There are two potential risks to the nest that must be eliminated during nest recording: (Download Handbook for Full Instructions)
