High Frequency Rail

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High Frequency Rail

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Birds

A bird study focuses on documenting and understanding potential habitat for different types of birds in a specific area. The 2024 bird study will focus on surveying and recording Loggerhead Shrikes and crepuscular birds and their habitat.

In spring and summer 2024, HFR planners will be playing bird calls to encourage callbacks, which are then recorded. Click the play buttons below to hear Loggerhead Shrike, Common Nighthawk and Eastern Whip-poor-will bird calls. These bird species may be found in the study area.

Common Nighthawk.

Eastern Whip-poor-will.

Loggerhead Shrike.

*The bird call recordings are courtesy of the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Where are bird studies taking place?

The 2024 bird studies will take place along sections of existing railway routes in Ontario, from Twin Elm up to Ottawa and down to Vars, and in Québec near Laval to the 740 highway in Québec City.

Why study birds?

Many birds, including crepuscular ones, are provincially protected by the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, the Québec Act Respecting the Conservation of Development of Wildlife, 2002, the Québec Act Respecting Threatened or Vulnerable Species, 1989, the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007, and federally protected by the Species at Risk Act, 2002. Additionally, the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike, which may be found in the study area, is listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act and the Ontario Endangered Species Act. These birds and their habitats are protected. Field studies will help HFR planners better understand and protect Loggerhead Shrikes and crepuscular birds and their habitat when building and operating the new railway, while determining a baseline for future studies.