Brian Chan, Outreach Technician at Birds Canada
Currently, Canada welcomes nearly 500,000 new immigrants annually, giving it one of the highest immigration rates globally, relative to its population. As of 2023, newcomers make up approximately 20 percent of Canada’s total population.
For new Canadians, integrating into their new community and environment presents significant challenges. Limited opportunities and lack of local experience make finding employment or residency difficult. Aside from daily life struggles, reconnecting with nature also comes with challenges, especially when the world outside the window is so different from the world we know. This is especially evident within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and its urban metropolitan landscape.
A rare Hooded Warbler perched on a fence. Photo: Brian Chan
As a newcomer myself, it took time to merge into the local birding community, especially after COVID, when public birding events were restricted and often required paid memberships for participation. But then came the Toronto Bird Celebration.
Birding community for all
The Toronto Bird Celebration (TBC) has been working to connect GTA residents to urban nature opportunities since 2016. Each spring, the festival offers members of the public the opportunity to engage in a number of accessible and mostly free bird-related events and activities. From online presentations on the basics of birding to guided walks in various spots around the GTA, the TBC has something for everyone. In collaboration with esteemed organizations, the Toronto Bird Celebration enables longtime residents and newcomers alike to connect with local environmental groups and find like-minded individuals to enjoy birding and connect with their community.
Participant Anuj Trived, who joined multiple TBC events, shares that “as a newcomer to Canada, TBC is the first time I felt included and positive about moving here.”
Toronto Bird Celebration participants enjoy the wonders of spring migration through our Lunch with Birds at Queen’s Park event! Photo: Brian Chan
This year marked TBC’s first event delivered in a second language, the Cantonese Bird Walk at Ashbridge’s Bay. I had the privilege of leading this guided walk, where participants observed various migratory and residential birds, connecting these sightings to Chinese culture. We shared Bai Juyi’s classical literature piece, “A Poem for the Swallow,” which emphasizes filial piety and the importance of being good to the people who raised you. This resonated with many participants and enhanced their birding experience through cultural relevance and community connection.
Through our language-inclusive events, The Toronto Bird Celebration aims to create an environment where non-native English speakers can enjoy birding. Participants gain lasting impressions and deeper connections by linking birds to their cultural knowledge, thereby amplifying our conservation messages and increasing community support for efforts to protect Canada’s birds.
Opportunities and future prospects
Not only does Toronto Bird Celebration create an inclusive platform for birding and building community, but it also supports gaining new experience and possible career advancement for students. In 2023, I joined the Toronto Bird Celebration as a volunteer and co-hosted a webinar titled “Window Strikes: Webinar on Fatal Bird Collisions” This experience was my first public presentation and it opened me up to new opportunities and networks. I volunteered as a Bird Bander at the Tommy Thompson Bird Observatory and with the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP), continuing to build hands-on experience and networks. The Toronto Bird Celebration introduces participants to a number of opportunities that will help them build new skills and expand their networks. Whether folks are looking for resume-boosting experience, or just looking for a way to positively contribute to bird conservation, Birds Canada has a number of volunteer opportunities including; SwiftWatch, Piping Plover Nest Monitoring, The Breeding Bird Atlas, the Great Backyard Bird Count, and more.
Until next year
With spring migration and the 8th Annual Toronto Bird Celebration now behind us, we extend our gratitude to all partners and participants. Although Toronto Bird Celebration’s events for the year have concluded, Birds Canada continues to connect with the public to increase the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of birds in Canada
Birds Canada has partnered with the Toronto Public Library to offer “Birding Kits”. Birding Kits are backpacks filled with binoculars, bird ID field guides, a Toronto Birding Map and other resources to help you explore Toronto’s birds! Kits are available with a valid Toronto Public Library card and can be borrowed for free for up to 3 weeks.
We would like to thank all our participants and partners for joining us to celebrate the wonders of birds during the Toronto Bird Celebration, as well as our sponsors TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Kowa Optics.
New to Birding? Learn more here: https://www.birdscanada.org/discover-birds/new-to-birding
Brian Chan is the 2024 Outreach Technician for Birds Canada. He’s currently an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology undergraduate at the University of Toronto.
Prior to working with Birds Canada, he volunteered with Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) and Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to assist with bird window strike victims and bird banding research. He hopes to continue working with bird conservation, and we wish him the best with his studies in the future.