The Song Sparrow ...

Is a newsletter published several times each year for members of Bird Protection Quebec. Starting with the first edition in 2009, the normal means of publishing the Song Sparrow newsletter will be in the form of an enriched and searchable electronic (PDF format) document that you will download from the website. An email announcing the availability of each new issue will be sent out to all members. This will include a table of contents to ensure that everyone is aware of time-sensitive announcements contained within the issue, and a photograph of the front page, inviting you to download the file.

The latest edition is only available to members only and will not have a link on this website until it has been superceded, but previous editions may be viewed from the links on this page - useful if you have lost your printed copy and want to check something out.

The latest newsletter here is the last-but-one. Current newsletters are only available to members -

Are you ready for your Electronic Song Sparrow??

Everyone will receive the electronic format copy unless we are specifically informed that you are unable to do so … and if you are reading this on our website it should be a given that you will be able to do so.

We need everyone's up-to-date email addresses: no address, no issue! Please send your preferred email address to marieanne.hudson@gmail.com as soon as possible. 

Why are we doing this?

The Communications Committee has very carefully considered the arguments for and against going electronic. Colour is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the benefits of switching. The costs of website and electronic distribution are very small and already budgeted for, so moving the Song Sparrow to electronic publication effectively liberates a minimum of $4200 for other projects each year. Over the first five years this would give BPQ an additional $35000 for conservation and research projects, something that would be most welcome. Thinking of it in terms of trees, during the last 12 months we have printed 48000 pages for the Song Sparrow newsletter alone. When we have the option of eliminating this amount of paper, as an organization whose mission dictates that we must protect birds and their habitats in Quebec, how can we not?

At the very least 75% of BPQ members have internet access, and the vast majority also have broadband connections. However, we will always ensure that a small number of printed copies will continue to be made available for those still unable to receive the electronic edition, for archiving and for publicity purposes, etc., though as few as possible will be made. 

So what becomes of the 'extra' $35000 that BPQ will be saving over the next five years?  The Board has been considering targeting a specific project(s) to which these savings might be directed so that we can see the immediate and practical benefits of moving to electronic publication. Though several worthy projects have already been suggested (e.g., improvement or replacement of the boardwalk at Philipsburg, installation of a bilingual information kiosk at one of the Montreal Nature Parks such as Île-Bizard, increased research grants, enhanced support for the McGill Bird Observatory, etc.), we are turning to you for additional suggestions. Please send your submissions to marieanne.hudson@gmail.com and have your say.

Marie-Anne Hudson (Editor)

Newsletters from other clubs

As a service to our members, when we are sent copies of newsletters from other clubs we will post links to them here. At the moment we have available the following:

le Club des ornithologues du Bas-Saint-Laurent

Kingston Field Naturalists

Société d'observation de la faune ailée du Sud-Ouest

Migration Chronicle from Tadoussac

Club des ornithologues de Brome-Missisquoi