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By Dr. Danielle Ethier, Senior Scientist, Birds Canada & President, Society of Canadian Ornithologists
Bringing together leading scientists, students, and conservation practitioners, the Society of Canadian Ornithologists (SCO) 2025 Annual Meeting—being held August 13-16 at the University of Saskatchewan—will serve as a dynamic hub for advancing avian research and conservation. This year’s theme, “Under Our Wings: Avian Conservation and Ecology in a Changing World,” emphasizes the need for scientific exchange and innovative action to address the multifaceted threats facing birds across the country. The theme also celebrates Avian Conservation and Ecology’s 25-year anniversary – a joint publication between Birds Canada and the SCO. The conference focuses on collaboration, knowledge exchange, and real-world conservation impact, promising to foster innovative partnerships and bridge scientific discovery with on-the-ground results.
Spotlight on Birds Canada Staff Research
Birds Canada is proud to showcase the impactful research and conservation leadership of our staff at this year’s SCO Annual Meeting. Let’s preview a few of these presentations, which highlight how science-driven approaches translate to conservation outcomes.
Threats and Conservation of Grassland Birds in Agricultural Landscapes
Kevin Hawkshaw, Biostatistics Analyst, is presenting on a crucial topic: grassland birds, the most imperilled bird group in North America. Much of their decline is attributed to the conversion of native grasslands into cropland due to economic pressures.
Kevin’s presentation will speak to the Bird-friendliness Index (BFI), a comprehensive biodiversity indicator developed to assess and enhance the conservation value of working farms and ranches. Ongoing efforts focus on further implementing the BFI as a policy and land management tool, directly contributing to measurable gains for grassland bird conservation.
Long-billed Curlew. Photo: Katelyn Luff
Addressing Aerial Insectivore Declines
Aerial insectivores are disappearing fast—victims of “death by a thousand cuts” from habitat loss, pesticide-driven insect declines, and climate change. Dr. Matt Fuirst, Research Ecologist, takes the lead on organizing an aerial insectivore symposium, showcasing innovative science to halt these losses. The symposium will feature research on Bank Swallow populations along Lake Erie, presented by Gabriel Evans-Cook, Ontario Aerial Insectivore Program Biologist, highlighting a decade of monitoring that reveals both steep local declines and complex shifts in colony locations as erosion and development reshape the shoreline.
Natasha Barlow, Ontario Programs Biologist, will present on the Chimney Swift Project, which applies Citizen Science, community partnerships, and targeted research to conserve a species that depends on urban structures for survival. These projects, led by passionate teams and early-career scientists, exemplify how integrative, on-the-ground research and strong outreach are essential for aerial insectivore conservation.
Bank Swallow. Photo: Jack Belleghem
The State of Canada’s Birds
Kyle Horner, NatureCounts Engagement Coordinator, will give a behind-the-scenes look at the new State of Canada’s Birds platform, co-developed by Birds Canada and Environment & Climate Change Canada. This initiative merges three cornerstone resources—the Status of Birds in Canada site, State of Canada’s Birds reports, and the NatureCounts data tools—into a single, interactive hub. With 250 million records and 400 thousand population trend estimates, the platform distills complex data for everyone from researchers to policy makers to the public, making conservation messages accessible, actionable, and inspiring.
Mapping the Risk of Coastal Waterbirds and Vessel Traffic
Rory Mackline, Data Analyst, addresses the growing challenge of vessel activity on marine bird populations. Utilizing vessel density and Citizen Science data from British Columbia and Washington, Rory’s research looks at how 24 species of coastal waterbirds have been doing in the Salish Sea over the past decade.
The results show that many birds, especially cormorants, overlap significantly with high vessel traffic, with some species and families experiencing regional declines. This new approach gives conservation managers valuable information to help protect vulnerable coastal birds. The full study will be published soon in Marine Ecology Progress Series.
American Avocet. Photo: Julia Marshall
What’s Next? Stay Tuned!
Email newsletter subscribers will be the first to hear more as these projects progress toward publication and real-world conservation impact stories.
