In Canada, mid-to-late summer may seem like a slow point in the backyard birding calendar. And it’s true for many species – but not hummingbirds. Feeding hummingbirds is very popular across Canada. And why wouldn’t you want to attract these amazing little fireballs to your backyard? For those who are interested in attracting hummingbirds, or who feed them already, here are a few tips and tricks to consider.
Many people across Canada await the warm, summer months to enjoy camping trips or garden projects, but summer wildfires are becoming an increasing threat and challenge to many people and communities, as well as to birds and wildlife. While wildfires are a natural process in some regions, including the Boreal, climate change is driving an increase in their number, extent, and intensity, impacting people, communities and also wildlife.
This spring, Birds Canada was proud to not only be invited back to both Cree territory along the shores of Weeneebeg (James Bay) and Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador, but also for the first time to NunatuKavut in southern Labrador, to install new Motus Wildlife Tracking System stations. This work integrates two major five-year initiatives that Birds Canada is embarking on: Science in the North and Motus on the Move.
The birds are back – and that means right across the country, Birds Canada staff and thousands of volunteers are hard at work on dozens of bird conservation, monitoring, and outreach initiatives. Our President and CEO Patrick Nadeau was eager to join in on the fun, so he packed his bags for a road trip from Ottawa to the Maritimes. Here’s a recap of his grand adventure!
As we celebrate Jody’s 20 years with Birds Canada, we honour how he has made a difference to bird conservation every day, not only for the birds, but for the people he has inspired to get outside and appreciate birds!
If you use the NatureCounts app to collect citizen science data, you’re sure to notice some changes when you head into the field this spring! A new version of the app was recently released, and it brings a host of improvements and new features.
Our course “Birding for Beginners” is now available on our new educational website! This free self-guided course will help you develop the foundational skills needed to start birding. You’ll learn about helpful tools like binoculars, guidebooks, and learn how to start identifying birds using size, shape, behaviours, habitats, colors, and sounds. The best part is that you’ll learn these skills with some of the most common birds found across Canada.
We’d like to take a moment to remember Dr. Bruce Falls and reflect on his extraordinary contributions to conservation and the profound influence he had over decades. His journey from the halls of academia to the forefront of environmental stewardship underscores a lifetime devoted to understanding, appreciating and conserving our natural world.
Allison Manthorne, Birds Canada’s Aerial Insectivore Conservation Strategist, tells us more about a special project to conserve nesting habitat for Bank Swallows in New Brunswick as well as how we can all help collect data and protect aerial insectivores across the country.
It’s May. A time of new arrivals, bird song and the undisputed high point of the birding calendar. Migratory songbirds are in trouble, but watching birds can actually help us take better care of them. Get outside, go birding, and learn more about how to help birds!
