Like bears emerging from hibernation, people across Canada eagerly await the warm summer weather that we’ve dreamt about all winter long. But in recent years, many of us have slapped on our sunscreen and slipped on our flip-flops, only to find smoke in the air. We worry about those living near active wildfires and wonder what will become of their homes. And we also worry and wonder about the wildlife – the birds.
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!
Dare to Bird by Melissa Hafting is infused with her palpable enthusiasm for birds, which shines through on every page. From the majesty of pelagic species to the delicate charm of hummingbirds, her passion is infectious and elevates the reader’s experience.”
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.
On May 22, the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced an investment of 15 million Canadian dollars over 3 years to Birds Canada to support the health of biodiversity and ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean through the Conserva Aves Initiative.
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.
