Our Presenter:

Carl Savignac is a forest bird biologist and director of Dendroica Environnement et Faune, an ecological consultant firm based in Chelsea, Québec. He obtained a M.Sc. from the Department of Biological Sciences at Laval University in 1996.

The Presentation:

Little is known about its ecology of the Evening Grosbeak even though it once was one of the most common and best known birds at our feeders. Citizen–based science investigations such as the Christmas Bird Count now suggest that this colourful bird has declined by 77% throughout North America since the early 1970s. For this reason, the species is now designated as a Special Concern in Canada. Being the author of the COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) status report for this species, Mr. Savignac will review the natural history of the Evening Grosbeak and summarize threats and limiting factors that are known to be responsible for its decline.

Biography:

Carl Savignac is a forest bird biologist and director of Dendroica Environnement et Faune, an ecological consultant firm based in Chelsea, Québec. He obtained a M.Sc. from the Department of Biological Sciences at Laval University in 1996. There, he studied the ecology of the Pilieated Woodpecker in the Laurentian mountain range. Since then, he has surveyed birds all across Canada and has coordinated several stewardship projects with private landowners in southern Québec to protect species at risk. As well, he has written numerous reports and scientific papers on birds and species at risk including status reports on boreal, temperate and grassland birds for the COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), including a status report on the Evening Grosbeak.