Birds Canada | About Us

Our mission is to engage people through science to protect the birds we love.

Our vision is one where all bird species in Canada are thriving in healthy and diverse habitats.

How do we know if birds are thriving?

We’ve developed the Thriving Bird Indicator as our primary measure of how bird populations in Canada are doing overall. It is based on the best available information for each bird species to give us an overall picture of their health. Our vision will be achieved when it reaches 100% thriving birds.

Explore the Indicator and the science behind it in our Strategic Plan, and read our latest Annual Report.

Strategic Plan Annual Report

Over 65 Years of History

For more than 65 years, our work has been powered by shared knowledge, and by generations of people who joined together to protect the birds we love.

It began with a small group of volunteers establishing Long Point Bird Observatory in Southern Ontario, which remains the oldest operating bird observatory in the Western Hemisphere. Their idea was simple: if we want to protect birds, we need to understand them better. Where do they go in the winter? What habitats do they depend on? What threatens their survival?

At Long Point—one of the richest migration corridors in North America—millions of birds pass through each spring and fall. That abundance created an opportunity to observe, learn, and ask meaningful questions.

And as knowledge grew, so did the community. More people joined our expanded program offerings—watching, counting, and contributing.

What started as a local effort became a national movement.

Working Together for the Birds We Love

Working together with other organizations, including the Federal Government of Canada, we became a partner in the development and facilitation of volunteer-based bird monitoring programs across the country. This network of volunteers continued to grow, collecting the data needed to generate the knowledge that could shape conservation policy and deepen our understanding of bird populations. Long-term bird population datasets collected over decades now show us what we couldn’t see before: which species are thriving, which are in decline, and where action is most needed.

What we’ve learned makes one thing clear: the birds we love need us now more than ever.

©Young Ornithologist Workshop, 1995Photo: Birds Canada

We Know that Conservation Works

While many species are under pressure from habitat loss and climate change, we also know that when people come together, we can reverse these trends and help bird populations recover. We know what we need to do, and we’ve done it before. Several bird species including Bald Eagle, Wood Duck, and Whooping Crane have rebounded since the 1970s thanks to sustained, collective action.

Today, we’ve grown from a few volunteers to a nationwide organization working with thousands of caring supporters and volunteers across the country to be the voice of birds. People who have turned their love of birds into action and have an appreciation for the science needed to protect them. This means more habitats conserved, strong collaborations, and robust research and training programs.

That’s why our work matters—when we come together, we can create a bright future for birds.

Two women birding in a city — ©Vancouver, British ColumbiaPhoto: Kris Cu

Our Values:

Welcome everyone in.

We nurture everyone’s love and curiosity about birds by ensuring that we’re creating safe spaces for people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge. Whether it’s a scientist exploring new tracking technologies, the first-timer identifying the guests at their birdfeeder, or a seasoned ornithologist wanting to get more involved in conservation efforts, we welcome everyone to share in our love for birds.

Share knowledge generously.

Our approach is centered on purposeful collaboration because we believe transformational impact is only possible through relationships built on trust and respect. That’s why we listen and learn from others, why we engage with volunteers to collect data, and it is why we share our knowledge and data generously for the benefit of the natural world.

Advocate with passion.

The sight and sound of birds sparks joy in all of us, and that’s what drives us to be the voice for birds. Through our work, we speak up and act on behalf of birds, applying our scientific expertise and data to the issues facing birds.

Find new solutions.

As the threats and opportunities for birds and their habitats continuously evolve, so do we. In every project we take on, we challenge ourselves to find new and effective ways to meet the needs of the natural world and respond to the most pressing challenges birds face.