Migration is beginning!! This past Tuesday was the first open day for the LPBO, but there have been lots of other things happening, too, so this blog will be a bit of a catch up. I’m dividing my time between working on art at my home studio, sketching and attending meetings at BCHQ, and beginning sketching at LPBO.
Meetings and Taxidermy
I went to the Friends of Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) meeting last week at BCHQ. They are the people who greet and orientate visitors who come to the LPBO. Afterwards, Gena, one of the Friends, gave me a tour of the BC professional library. She is the volunteer Librarian there, and has done a huge amount of work organizing the materials. The library is full of books about birds in Canada and around the world, along with magazines and other publications relating to birds and banding. The reports from the LPBO are there, too. I have permission to use this library as a resource during my art residency.
On Wednesday, I held the final Nature Puzzles and Art Cafe at BCHQ. Our Featured Artist, Susan Bennett, gave a spirited presentation of her palette knife oils technique, and then invited people to try it themselves on a painting in progress. Later, Inga led an interesting session on designing and painting a promotional poster for Port Rowan/Long Point. I was really happy with the response in the community to these six sessions - it was a great way to complete the community engagement part of my residency agreement, and meet new people at the same time.
Later in the week, I continued sketching taxidermy birds at BCHQ, choosing a beautiful mounted Blue-Winged Teal. Doing preliminary colour sketches from these mounted specimens gives me a chance to really understand the birds. The following day, while in the lunchroom, LPBO Coordinator Emma Buck and myself saw three (live) Blue-Winged Teal land in the very small pond just outside the window - they were so close we didn’t need binoculars to see their markings.
On Saturday I went to the Ontario Bird Banding Association’s (OBBA) AGM at BCHQ. This is the organization that founded the LPBO (which then expanded to become Birds Canada); this is where it all started. There were some great presentations about bird research and banding from across Canada.
Monday I did some sketching at BCHQ, beginning a preliminary drawing for a painting of a view out of one of the second-floor windows that overlooks the lovely wetlands on the BCHQ property. I spotted Canada Geese, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Gadwall Ducks, and brightly patterned Hooded Mergansers. It’s crazy duck time in Norfolk County. These wetlands are a great place to see the ducks easily, and can also be viewed from the adjacent cemetery road.
Opening Day at the LPBO
Tuesday was the first open day for the LPBO. It was a cool but calm and sunny day. I drove down to Long Point to see what was happening. The mist nets were out along the trail, looking like giant spider webs in the morning sun. The Visitor Centre was open, and Friends were there checking out the merchandise and comparing bird sightings before visitors arrived. The Banding Lab was open and busy, with different banders and volunteers from around the world banding the numerous birds that were flying into the nets. A line of wriggling bags hung on the wall next to them - birds waiting to be recorded and banded. This process happens quite quickly, to minimize the time the birds are handled. This lab is open mornings during migration for the public to watch the banding, and is also live-streamed on their YouTube channel, which can be watched from the warmth and comfort of the Visitor’s Centre (which has seating and coffee!), or on your phone or computer. It’s a bit addictive, I warn you!
More Taxidermy
Later in the day, I returned to the BCHQ to sketch “study skins”, bird taxidermy from birds that have been preserved after being hit by cars or windows.
These are a great reference for understanding detail regarding beaks, feet, and feather detail.
Long Point Art Studio and Great Egrets
It’s a very windy day today, so I’ll work mostly in studio. Meanwhile I have been distracted this morning by Great Egrets that have been landing on the pond past our backyard. Soon these elegant, graceful birds will be everywhere in the wetlands along the Long Point Causeway. Watch out for photographers with massive lens, migration is underway.
Cindy Presant
Long Point Art Studio
April 3, 2025