home
people
research
international polar year
publications
billpublic outreach
contact
 
 

Birds I View: A monthly article that I write for the Northeastern Avalon Times

December 2017 - Murres Tough it out Through the Newfoundland Winter

November 2017 - Open Letter to Seabird Biologists in the Falkland Islands

October 2017 - The Environment, Development and Municipal Elections

September 2017 - Fishing with Gillnets Creates Problems for Fishers and Seabirds

August 2017 - The Disappearance of Millions of Newfoundland Seabirds

July 2017 - Cats, Birds and Cat Dreams

June 2017 - Bird-watching at the Health Sciences Centre

May 2017 - Blaming Scientists While Demanding Unsustainable Quotas

April 2017 - The Ice is in the Bay and Everywhere Else

March 2017 - Budget Cuts to Environment and Conservation are Lethal

February 2017 - Every Day is Valentine’s Day in Newfoundland

January 2017 - Seabirds with Eyes Larger Than Their Gullets

December 2016 - To Feed or not to Feed?

November 2016 - Spirit in the Night – Releasing a Stranded Storm-Petrel

October 2016 - Birds in the Eye and mind of the Beholder

September 2016 - Extinct Auk and Beothuk Kindred Spirits

August 2016 - Fishing to Commercial Extinction

July 2016 - Muskrat Falls and the Concorde Fallacy

June 2016 - Searching for Accountability in a Sea of Systemic Dishonesty

May 2016 - Economy and the Environment are Birds of a Feather

April 2016 - The Plight of a Juvenile Snowy Owl

March 2016 - The Slaughter of Murres Must Stop

February 2016 - Creating Land Trusts Require Compromise

January 2016 - Cutting the Trees and Mercury at Muskrat Falls

December 2015 - The Curse of Open-Pen Salmon Farming

November 2015 - Retirement is a Bankers’ Fallacy

October 2015 - Surviving in the Natural World - Working for Comfort

September 2015 - This is the Future - Act Accordingly

August 2015 - Privatizing the Natural World Around Us

July 2015 - The Problem With Swans and Other Introduced Species

June 2015 - Ocean Protection will Benefit Newfoundland and Labrador

May 2015 - Avian Sex Differences are in the Eye of the Beholder

April 2015 - In Praise of Coyotes

March 2015 - North Carolina Birding Adventure

February 2015 - Destroying a Rural Town

January 2015 - Cross-Country Checkup, Climate Change and the Classics

December 2014 - Wind and Seabirds

October 2014 - Basque and Portuguese Influence in Newfoundland and Labrador

September 2014 - Funk Island - It Could Be Heaven

July 2014 - Back to the Future: Returning to Middle Lawn Island

June 2014 - Town Councils Must Honor Societal Contracts

May 2014 - North Atlantic Winds Bring Birds and Bergs

April 2014 - Witless Bay Council Rejects Development at Ragged Beach

March 2014 - Slick Information About Offshore Oil Pollution

February 2014 - The Northern Flicker is Newfoundland’s Colorful Woodpecker

January 2014 - Come-From-Away Birds

December 2013 - The Birds and the Bees and the Pesticides

November 2013 - Fishes are Something Much More Than Raw Material

October 2013 - Assessing Impacts on the Environment: Fraudulent Credentials Question   Scientific Independence

September 2013 - Opportunities for Community Environmental Stewardship

August 2013 - The Very Extraordinary Common Murres of Funk Island

July 2013 - The Rescue of an Entangled Loon

June 2013 - The Shags Are Back

May 2013 - Early Aboriginal Interactions with Birds

April 2013 - Provincial Budget Devastates Environmental Safety Net

March 2013 - The Legal Challenge to Save Sandy Pond

February 2013 - Blizzards Challenge Birds As Well As Humans

January 2013 - Rescind Votes on Muskrat Falls and St. John's Harbour Fence

December 2012 - A Muskrat Falls Decision

November 2012 - Culling Seals is Wrong

October 2012 - Bird Migrants Linger During the Fall

September 2012 - Gannets Signal Influences of Very Warm Ocean Waters

August 2012 - The Pilgrimage

July 2012 - Attacks on Humans and an Attempted Murder by Crows

June 2012 - The Federal Assault on the Environment

May 2012 - The Comings and Goings of Spring

April 2012 - Little Red Riding Hood and Other Tales of Despair

March 2012 - Habitat Destruction by Tar Sands Leads to Wolf Cull

February 2012 - Save the Seal Hunt - Let It Be

January 2012 - Was the Christmas Puffin a Quebecer?

December 2011 - The Incorporation of the University

November 2011 - Richard's Journey - The Long and Winding Road

October 2011 - Killing Two Birds With One Stone - Fuming Autos and Drivers

September 2011 - Every Time They Get in the Boat

August 2011 - The Paradox of Gannet Nesting Behaviour

July 2011 - Separate Realities - It's Just the Way It Is

June 2011 - Community Efforts to Protect Ragged Beach

May 2011 - Save Our Moose

April 2011 - Keep Snowmobiles and ATVs Out of Our Parks

March 2011 - Writing Symphonies for the Devil

February 2011 - Developer's Paradise

January 2011 - The Gift of Maternal Love and World Peace

December 2010 - Into the Fog

November 2010 - The Good Journalists and the Bad Ones

October 2010 - Igor's Environmental Mandates

September 2010 - The Long and Lasting Reach of Jon Lien

August 2010 - Out-foxed on Funk Island

July 2010 - Rocky Mountain Environmental Highs

June 2010 - The Fallacy of Culling Seals to Enhance Fish Stocks

May 2010 - Gulf of Mexico Disaster is an Error Not an Accident

April 2010 - Vital Signs of Changing Climate

March 2010 - Ted Cross - Late Blooming Birder

February 2010 - The Tragic Plight of Atlantic Salmon

January 2010 - Public Concern for a Suffering Duck

December 2009 - Gerard Leonard - Newfoundlander Tried and True

November 2009 - The Necessity of Compromising Development

October 2009 - Where Have All the Capelin Gone?

September 2009 - Old Trails and New Studies on Baccalieu Island

August 2009 - Arctic Fox Vexes Funk Island Seabirds and Researchers

July 2009 - Bergs and Birds in the Little Fogo Islands

June 2009 - Searching for a Gannet Colony on the Port au Port Peninsula

May 2009 - Can Economic Analyses Help Protect the Environment?

April 2009 - Arctic Murre Die-off Associated with Inshore Sea Ice

March 2009 - The Return of Harlequin Ducks

February 2009 - Local Bird and Place Names Tell Tales

January 2009 - The Street Dogs of Chile

December 2008 - Visions of Great Auks are All That remain

November 2008 - The Reckless and Risky Lives of Young Gannets

October 2008 -  Being in Bird Cove

September 2008 - Premier Williams' Broken Promise

August 2008 - One Seabird Adventure After the Next

July 2008 - The Capelin are Coming

June 2008 - Environmental Initiatives on the Northeast Coast

May 2008 - Engineer Reports Illegal Pollution by Container Vessel

April 2008 - Gannets Return to Cape St. Mary's

March 2008 - Night Lighting Has Gloomy Environmental Effects

April 2006 - Sealing, Anti-sealing and Reality

March 2006 - Political Fishing Quotas Create Social Chaos

February 2006 - Hunting? - Never on Sundays

January 2006 - High Arctic Eiders and Other Winter Birds

December 2005 - The Dance of the Roosting Starlings

August 2005 - Old Men

June 2005 - The Legal Seafoods Boycott of Canadian Fish


Watch Vessel Traffic on the East Coast of Newfoundland

Visit the site here



CBC News: " Ocean litter 'disgusting' but scientist says attitudes are changing"

November 22, 2017

Read the article here


Montevecchi: "Open Letter to Seabird Biologists in the Falkland Islands"

November, 2017

Read the article here

Montevecchi: "Musgrave Harbour Outreach"

October, 2017

Read the article here


VOCM News: "Millions of Seabirds Vanishing Raises red Flags on Offshore Oil: Biologist"

October 18, 2017

Read the article here


CBC News: "Researchers Call for Offshore Oil Action as Newfoundland Seabirds Vanish"

October 17, 2017

Read the article here


VOCM Nightline: "Gillnets, Ghost Nets and Sustainable Fishing Practices"

October 5, 2017

Listen here


MUN Gazette: "Ocean Messengers"

September 28, 2017

Read the article here


VOCM News: "Vessel Breached Buffer Zone of Ecological reserve: Montevecchi"

August 28, 2017

Read the article here


CBC News: "Biologist Slams US Vessel For Running Aground in Witless Bay Reserve"

August 27, 2017

Read the article here


Northeast Avalon Times: `The Disappearance of Millions of Newfoundland Seabirds"

August, 2017

Read the article here


VOCM News: "Coastal Wildlife and Oil Industry an Imbalanced Equation: Montevecchi"

July 17, 2017

Read the article here


CBC News: "Offshore petroleum board not fit for environmental regulation, scientist says."

July 11, 2017

Read the article here


The Telegram - Letter: "Oil companies and the CNLOPB - A scandalous relationship."

July 10, 2017

Read the article here


CBC News: "We're doing something wrong: Environmentalist questions central Newfoundland scrap yard."

June 17, 2017

Read the article here


Letter to Minister Catherine McKenna

January 30, 2017

Read the article here

 

The New York Times - "Hunting 'Turr' in Newfoundland's Frigid Waters"

December 4, 2016

Read the article here

 

CBC Radio: The Broadcast - "Are You Ready If a Ship Starts Leaking Oil on Your Coastline?"

December 1, 2016

Listen to the broadcast here

 

MUN Gazette - "Faculty serving in voluntary capacity to establish N.L. nature reserves"

November 29, 2016

Read the article here

 

VOCM News - "Your Birdfeeder Could be Killing Songbirds"

August 17, 2016

Read the article here

 

CBC Radio - The Broadcast Interview  -"Rethinking the Capelin Fishery and Best Practices"

August 2, 2016

Listen to the audio here

 

Partners in Research Science Ambassador Award 2016 - Acceptance Speech

May 3, 2016

Read the speech here

 

CBC News - "Scientist scolds 'wasteful' hunters after seabirds dumped in C.B.S"

March 21, 2016

Read the article here

 

The Telegram - "Salmonier River Controversy Can be Resolved"

February 15, 2016

Read the article here

 

Fogo Island Inn 2016 Valentine's Weekend Bird and Mammal List

February 14, 2016

Read it here

 

NTV News - "Eagle Snared by Animal Trap in Clarenville"

February 3, 2016 

Read the article here 

 

Brochure - "The Funk Island Great Aux Exhibition"

Read the brochure here

 

Letters of Concern and Article- "Ragged Beach Development"

  • Ecological Concerns about Proposed Ragged Beach Development (June 2011).  Read here
  • Witless Bay Municipal Plan and Development Regulations – Submission and Statement of Objection (October 2015).   Read here
  • Osprey article: Environmental Stewardship of the Witless Bay Seabird Reserve.  Read here

 

VOCM News: Biologist Calls for Reinstatement of Manager at Bird Sanctuary

August 28, 2015

Read the article here

 

CTV News: Researchers to track northern gannets after Nfld. chicks left to starve

 

August 27, 2015

 

Read the article here

 

 

Radio Canada International: Climate change and abnormal behaviour of gannets

September 18, 2014

Read the article here

 

O Canada.com:  Chicks starving in Newfoundland as warmer sea water imperils food supply for birds

September 12, 2014

Read the article here

 

VOCM News: Puffins Doing Great, Gannets, Not So Much

September 1, 2014

Read the article here

 

Nature NL (press release): Gannets abandoning chicks at Cape St. Mary's seabird colony

August 27, 2014

Read the article here

 

The Pilot: Little Fogo Island a seabird hot spot

June 25, 2014

Read the article here

 

The Telegram - A Road Not Taken

March 12, 2014

Read the article here

 

Metro News - Feds must stop shipwreck oil leak: minister

January 13, 2014

Read the article here

 

The Blog Aquatic - Interview: Dr. Bill Montevecchi on Oil and Dispersant Effects on Birds Wintering in the Gulf of Mexico

January 9, 2014

Read the article here

 

The Telegram - Sandy pond Alliance Not Backing Down

November 26, 2013

Read the article here

 

CBC St. John's Morning Show - "Why did the duck WALK across the road?"

October 17, 2013

Listen to the show here

 

CBC Shift NB - "Massive Bird Kill Predictable, Says Scientist"

September 19, 2013

Listen to the Mp3 here

 

CBC News - "Seabirds Get Comfy at Abandoned St. John's Supermarket"

July 10, 2013

Read the story here

 

CBC News - "How a Paradise teen became a wetlands conservationist"

July 8, 2013

Read the story here

 

CBC Radio Fisheries Broadcast - "Cod Moratorium, Gill Net Use and Seabird Populations"

June 26, 2013

Listen to the Mp3 here

 

CBC Radio Quirks and Quarks - "Gill-net Drownings Depress Seabird Populations"

June 8, 2013

Listen to the Mp3 here

 

CBC Radio Fisheries Broadcast - "The Cod Moratorium and its Still-Reverberating Effects on Seabirds"

June 4, 2013

Listen to the interview here (CBC Website)

 

Nature - "Terrible Toll of Fishing Nets on Seabirds Revealed"

May 29, 2013

Read the article here

 

Nature Research Highlights - "Divers Soar After Net Ban"

May 2013

Read the article here

 

CBC Radio Noon - "The Coast Guard is Trying to Plug an Oil Spill..."

May 24, 2013

Listen to the interview here (CBC website)

 

The Telegram - "Judge Considering Sandy Pond Case"

February 28, 2013

Read the article here

 

CBC News Here and Now - "Sandy Pond Alliance Court Challenge"

February 27, 2013

View the video here (Note: The segment of interest starts at 35:10)

 

CBC News Here and Now - "Duck Problems"

February 1, 2013

View the video here

 

CBC Radio: Fisheries Broadcast - "To Cull or Not to Cull"

December 11, 2012

Listen to the MP3 here (NOTE: Dr. Montevecchi comes on at 2:15)

 

Juris Benjamin - "Lucky Landing: The Story of a Gannet in Need of Rescue"

Read the article here

 

Global National - "Warmer Waters and Birds' Changing Behaviour"

August 29, 2012

View the video here

 

CBC News: Here and Now, NL - "Disappearing Gannets"

August 17, 2012

View the video here (Note that this is the full news broadcast and Dr. Montevechi comes on at 103.35 mins)

 

CBC Radio One: On the Go - "Ted Speaks With Bill Montevecchi About Dive Bombing Crows"

July 4, 2012

Listen to Podcast (CBC website)

 

The Canadian Press - "Biologists Call for Action to Stop Multiple Oil and Mud Spills off Newfoundland"

July 4, 2012

View the article here

 

Radio Canada International: The Link! - "Scientist Demands Greater Monitoring of Canadian Seabirds Affected by BP Oil Spill"

March 28, 2012

Listen to MP3

 

Presentation by Dr. Montevecchi - Hebron Environmental Assessment: Review of Comprehensive Study Report

December 6, 2011

View the presentation here

 

CBC Radio: Labrador Morning Show - "Arctic Seabird Presentation"

December 1, 2011

Listen to MP3

 

BBC World Service - Science in Action

October 20, 2011

Listen to MP3 (Dr. Montevecchi comes on at 13:00)

 

The Vancouver Sun - "BP spill posed bigger risk to seabirds than believed: researchers"

October 20, 2011

View the article here

 

CBC Radio: St. John's Morning Show - "Oiled Gannets Research Paper"

October 19, 2011

Listen the MP3

 

NDP Press Release - NDP Leader Questions Offshore Environmental Safety

October 17, 2011

View the release here

 

The Telegram - Second Spill in Matter of Weeks Raises Questions: MUN Prof

October 15, 2011

View the article here

 

Environmental Policy Questionnaire - NL Provincial Election

August 29, 2011

View the questionnaire here

 

Environmental Policy Recommendations - NL Provincial Election

August 29, 2011

View the questionnaire here

 

YouTube - "Funk Island: A Marvellous Terrible Place"

August 17, 2011

View the YouTube Video here

 

Music and Songs to Right the Wrongs Concert

July 16, 2011

View the poster here

 

CPAWS News Release - "Scientists Call on Canada to Strictly Protect at Least 30% of its Oceans"

May 16, 2011

View the article here

View website here

 

MPA Guidelines

Download the report here

 

MPA Invitation

Download the invitation here

 

The Telegram - "Time for Change at the Offshore Petroleum Board"

March 30, 2011

View article here

 

CBC Radio: St. John's Morning Show - "Environmental Audit"

December 8, 2010

Listen to MP3

 

News Video: "Gannets Migrating Into Danger"

November 21, 2010

View the video here

 

CBC Radio: St. John's Morning Show

November 4, 2010

Listen to MP3

 

CBC News: "BP Spill Threatens a Third of Canadian Gannets"

October 21, 2010

View the article here

 

CBC Radio: As It Happens - "Birds-oil View"

October 21, 2010

Listen to MP3 (NOTE: This is the entire broadcast)

 

CBC Radio: Fisheries Broadcast - "Sea Birds Affected by Oil Spill in Gulf"

July 28, 2010

Listen to MP3  (Dr. Montevecchi comes on at 17:43)

 

CBC Radio: The Current - "Sea Birds Affected by Oil Spill in Gulf"

July 28, 2010

Listen to MP3  (Dr. Montevecchi comes on at 11:57)

 

The Telegram - "Gulf Disaster Worries Bird Scientist"

July 15, 2010

View the article here

 

Polar Exchange - Interview From the International Polar Year Oslo Science Conference

June 10, 2010

Watch the interview here (Dr. Montevecchi comes on at 34:30)

 

CBC News - "Keep Mine Waste Out of Ponds: Activists"

June 4, 2010

View the article here

 

Rotary Club Address - "Privilege and the Protection of the Great Grand Bank Ocean"

May 20, 2010

Read the address here

 

CBC News - "Drilling Plan Off Newfoundland Called Unsound"

May 6, 2010

View the article here

 

CBC Radio Morning Show - "Oil Spills Impact"

May 6, 2010

Listen to MP3

 

CBC News - "Low Risk for Newfoundland Oil Disaster: Williams"

May 3, 2010

View the article here

 

CLKB Radio: Ends of the Earth - "Five Reasons to Care About Arctic Seabirds"

January 25, 2010

Listen to MP3

 

CBC News - "Efforts to Save Distressed Duck in St. John's Fail"

January 8, 2010

View the article here

 

Johnson GEO CENTRE public lecture - "Seabird Capitals: The Ecological Seabird Reserves of Newfoundland and Labrador"

October 27, 2009

View the poster here

 

CBC Radio: NL Morning Show - "Lawn Islands Archipelago"

July 21, 2009

Listen to MP3

 

NTV News - "National Conservancy Gifts Province"

June 26, 2009

Read the headline here

 

CBC Radio: Fisheries Broadcast - "The Funks: Bones, Seabirds and Ocean Conservation"

June 23, 2009

Listen to MP3

View the poster here

 

The Western Star - No Evidence of Gannet Nesting; Cape St. George Kittiwake Colonies Significant: Professor

May 27, 2009

Read the article here or download

 

CBC Radio: NL West Coast Morning Show - "Northern Gannets on the Port Aux Port Peninsula"

May 6, 2009

Listen to MP3

 

The Western Star - Boat Tours Could Settle Gannet Breeding Colonies Debate

May 1, 2009

Read the article here or download

 

CBC Radio: Fisheries Broadcast - "Lack of public information on oil spills at offshore platforms"

March 10, 2009

Listen to MP3

 

CBC News - "Researchers feel cold shoulder as polar year project comes to a close"

January 27, 2009

Read Story or download PDF

 

BBC News - "Warning as Seabird Breeding Fails"

October 30, 2008

Read the article here.

 

The Telegram Forum- Premier Williams' Broken Promise: The Sandy Pond Give-away

October 12, 2008, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Read the article here.

Related: Sudbury Human Health Risk Assessment

Related: Sudbury Community Soil Committee Media Release

 

Article: Offshore Hydrocarbon and Synthetic Hydrocarbon Spills in Eastern Canada: The Issue of Follow-up and Experience

By Gail Fraser & Joanne Ellis, in Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management

Read the journal article here.

Listen to the audio broadcast of an interview with Dr. Fraser.

Read the C-NLOPB's response to the article here.

 

Press Release: "Predicted Number of Atallantic Offshore Oil Spills Exceeded"

September 15, 2008, The Alder Institute

Read the press release here.

 

CBC Radio Noon - "What areas of the province should be protected from development?"

September 11, 2008, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Listen to the audio broadcast of the interview.

 

CBC News - "Production affected by White Rose oil spill"

September 10, 2008

Read Story or download PDF

 

Parody:  "The Front Fell Off"

Watch the video here (Windows Media).

 

CBC Radio Noon - "Economic Boom and Environmental Investment"

July 7, 2008, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Listen to the audio broadcast of the interview and a call from a listener.

 

CBC News - "Ship dumped tonnes of oily bilge off Newfoundland, crew says"

May 2, 2008, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Read Story

Watch the video (Apple Quicktime)

 

CBC 'Interview: Wrecked Thick-billed Murres'

2007, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Listen to the CBC radio interview

 

CBC 'Commentary on Bill C-15'

May 17, 2005, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Read Commentary

Bill C-15

 
 
 

CBC 'Crosstalk'

April 18, 2005, Dr. Bill Montevecchi and Ian Jones

Further information for people who wish to Help Protect Seabirds

 
 

CBC, 'Quirks and Quarks - Great Auk Extinction'

Jan 01, 2004, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Listen to MP3

 
 

CBC News - Record spill at Terra Nova under scrutiny

November 22, 2004, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Read Story

 
 

CBC News - Feds failing to protect the ocean: biologist

August 7, 2003, Dr. Bill Montevecchi

Read Story

 

For decades of extraordinary and selfless efforts for appreciation
and protection of the natural environment and all its creatures and plants, Dr.
Allan Stein was awarded the 2010 Tuck - Walters Award at the Annual Meeting of
the Newfoundland and Labrador Natural History Society in March.
 

 

Lieutenant Governor John Crosby awarding Dr. Jon Lien with the Order of Canada, 10 July 2008.  For more photos of the ceremony, please click here.